When someone sits down to write the history of mixed martial arts someday, Scott Coker will have a prominent place in it.
As Strikeforce founder and current president of Bellator MMA, the 54-year-old executive has for years served as one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s chief rivals. His subtle, reserved approach to fight promotion stands in stark contrast to the in-your-face style of UFC President Dana White. Coker arrived on the MMA scene in 2006 and built Strikeforce into a combat sports powerhouse before selling the organization to UFC parent company Zuffa LLC in March 2011.