Video: Scott Coker talks Bellator return, possible addition of Paige VanZant

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Bellator MMA returns next week and they plan on being quite active through the rest of 2020.

Bellator 242 will take place July 24 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn. The promotion also has events set for the same venue on Aug. 7, Aug. 21 and Sept. 11 to fill out, what Bellator president Scott Coker calls is, their “summer series.”

On Thursday, Coker joined MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck to discuss Bellator’s official return next weekend, how it all came together to host the first events at Mohegan Sun, the structure—or “Fightsphere”—the promotion has in place to keep fighters, employees, and all involved with the events safe during the global pandemic, and wanting to get all the big name fighters on the roster opportunities to compete—including Ryan Bader, Cris Cyborg and Gegard Mousasi.

In addition, Coker discusses the promotion’s interest in new free agent Paige VanZant following her first-round submission loss to Amanda Ribas at UFC 251.