Scott Coker wants Francis Ngannou to fight MMA for Bellator, box for Showtime after recent meeting

[TCE]

Coker is keen to do business with Ngannou, 36, and he’s optimistic a deal could come together after a recent sit down with Ngannou.

“From my perspective, then you talk about signing him to Bellator, we’re also talking about having a conversation with him and Stephen (Espinoza), which happened earlier this week, about getting into Showtime pay-per-view boxing, too,” Coker told MMA Junkie and other reporters Friday ahead of Bellator 291. “I think we have a great company to offer him both sides of the combat sports business that he would like to, which is fight MMA and also box. I think we’re a great fit. There’s ongoing discussions, so we’ll see what happens.”
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023...ou-fight-bellator-box-showtime-recent-meeting

 

[WolverReem]

Take out Bellator and we got a deal

 

[careto]

I think Ngannou will fight Fury and probably never do MMA again.

 

[The Last King]

I think Ngannou will fight Fury and probably never do MMA again.

A fight with Wilder is more interesting imo.

 

[careto]

A fight with Wilder is more interesting imo.

I agree but for some reason Ngannou has always targeted Fury and Fury seems to like the idea. So, its a real possibility.

 

[The Last King]

I agree but for some reason Ngannou has always targeted Fury and Fury seems to like the idea. So, its a real possibility.

Yea Fury is no doubt the bigger fight.

 

[TRVITMVNZ]

It would be the ideal situation that I would want to see for him but he goes elsewhere

 

[MMALOPEZ]

Yea Fury is no doubt the bigger fight.

Bigger mismatch yes … bigger fight ‘ depends if Fury is allowed in the US… which is not happening at this moment

 

[The Last King]

Bigger mismatch yes … bigger fight ‘ depends if Fury is allowed in the US… which is not happening at this moment

I'll take Wilder then

 

[WolverReem]

I agree but for some reason Ngannou has always targeted Fury and Fury seems to like the idea. So, its a real possibility.

Fury is still ducking Usyk too

 

[TorontoTO]

Bigger mismatch yes … bigger fight ‘ depends if Fury is allowed in the US… which is not happening at this moment

The bout would happen in Saudi Arabia anyway. No one is paying Ngannou the money he is asking besides the Saudis

 

[MMALOPEZ]

The bout would happen in Saudi Arabia anyway. No one is paying Ngannou the money he is asking besides the Saudis

I don’t see anyone paying 30 mil for Francis… still Wilder vs Ngannou is a far closer and entertaining fight … fury will outbox him easily

 

[David Street]

Bellator needs to do something to keep their viewers as they move to Paramount plus. Ngannou is their best bet.

 

[CC27]

I'd probably not sign with anyone if I were him and try to land a one off boxing bout.

Get that boxing bout and after he loses then come to the table with everyone. Shit he could even think ok i got paid and lost and what if Jones is now UFC HW champ, going back there might be an option, doubtful but possible.

Otherwise its Bellator/Showtime and PFL/Top Rank/ESPN+.

Both would give him option to fight in mma and boxing. Bellator has better mma HW and good boxing bout with Wilder. PFL/ESPN+/Top Rank have better platform and bigger Fury fight in boxing but no names in mma.

Honestly not much of anything I care to see him in out there. I guess Wilder fight would be most interesting just from a pure violent car crash type finish you'd end up seeing with them just swinging on each other. I dont card to see him get boxed up by Fury, fight no names in PFL or fight the likes of Bader and Kongo and Mowry in Bellator.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

I think Ngannou will fight Fury and probably never do MMA again.

He's expressed interest in continuing to do MMA though.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I'd probably not sign with anyone if I were him and try to land a one off boxing bout.

Get that boxing bout and after he loses then come to the table with everyone. Shit he could even think ok i got paid and lost and what if Jones is now UFC HW champ, going back there might be an option, doubtful but possible.

Otherwise its Bellator/Showtime and PFL/Top Rank/ESPN+.

Both would give him option to fight in mma and boxing. Bellator has better mma HW and good boxing bout with Wilder. PFL/ESPN+/Top Rank have better platform and bigger Fury fight in boxing but no names in mma.

Honestly not much of anything I care to see him in out there. I guess Wilder fight would be most interesting just from a pure violent car crash type finish you'd end up seeing with them just swinging on each other. I dont card to see him get boxed up by Fury, fight no names in PFL or fight the likes of Bader and Kongo and Mowry in Bellator.

Yeah do the boxing fight then if it goes terribly see who's offering the most money in MMA.

 

[TorontoTO]

Yeah do the boxing fight then if it goes terribly see who's offering the most money in MMA.

He wants to get 30 million for the boxing bout, aka 4 times what he would make in the UFC if the 8 mill per bout figure was correct. I think Ngannou knows he doesn't have long, maybe the knee injury was worse then we thought

Get wrecked by Fury/AJ/Wilder and then by Bader and call it a career

 

[spinup]

Bigger mismatch yes … bigger fight ‘ depends if Fury is allowed in the US… which is not happening at this moment

Pretty sure this would happen in a UAE/Saudi Arabia

 

[Yrat]

If he will fight for Bellator are they going to give him Ryan Bader and maybe risking a loss? Because losing in Bellator as a former ufc champ does not look good.

Just like with Tim Sylvia against Fedor.

 

[SokoudjouFanboy]

If he will fight for Bellator are they going to give him Ryan Bader and maybe risking a loss? Because losing in Bellator as a former ufc champ does not look good.

Just like with Tim Sylvia against Fedor.

You think Ryan Bader has a snowball's chance in hell against big Francis?