LAS VEGAS – Dana White doesn’t agree with Scott Coker’s assessment, but the UFC president understands where the Bellator boss is coming from.
In the lead-up to Bellator 244 held Friday, Coker said his promotion has the best light heavyweight division in the world. After Vadim Nemkov TKO’d Ryan Bader to win the title, Coker doubled down on that thought.
When asked about Coker’s comments Saturday during the UFC on ESPN 15 post-fight news conference, White simply laughed them off.
“I didn’t (hear his comments),” White said before adding, “Isn’t he cute?”
In an answer to a follow-up question, White elaborated and said he understood why Coker would make such comments, but he also doubled down on declaring them false.
“Guys, everybody they have in their light heavyweight division we let go of,” White said. “He’s got the best light heavyweight division? We let those guys all go. It’s like the (expletive) dumbest thing I’ve heard, but I get it. He’s got to (expletive) do his thing. I’m not (expletive) on him. He’s got to try to do his thing. He’s got to try to sell fights. The way you don’t sell fights is, ‘I’ve got the best light heavyweight division in the world.’ Everybody that was there was let go from here.
White concluded with a few more digs and scoffed at the idea of a cross-promoting with Bellator when it was brought it.
“That’s a pretty silly statement,” White said. “… What superfight would I make with Bellator?”
