Bellator's considering addition of Fight Night bonuses

http://mmajunkie.com/2015/02/bellators-coker-were-discussing-fight-night-bonuses-internally-but-nothing-to-announce

From the sound of it, Bellator MMA featherweight champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire may have to wait a little longer before fight-night bonuses become a reality.

Although Bellator President Scott Coker didn’t rule out the possibility of awarding fighters additional cash for their performances, telling MMAjunkie Radio there are “internal discussions on the matter,” there is “nothing to announce.”

“Maybe I’ll have something to announce in the near future,” Coker said in a traditional refrain for the longtime promoter.

Freire, who won the belt this past September in a rematch with Pat Curran, previously told MMAjunkie that Bellator has an opportunity to distinguish itself as a fight promoter by rewarding its current talent.

“If Bellator can pay fighters the same as the UFC does, give them the opportunity to win fight-night bonuses and the freedom to choose who their sponsors are, it’s easy to see they can change the sport as we know it,” he said.

Freire said he would have been a millionaire by now if Bellator had bonuses, and his brother, who’s knocked out several fighters in highlight-reel fashion, would have been on more solid financial footing.

“When the UFC bought Strikeforce, Scott Coker talked about lobbying for fight-night bonuses with Zuffa, so why not do it now with Viacom?” Freire said. “I think the biggest differential the UFC has these days is the fight-night bonuses, especially with Reebok taking over all the sponsorships.

“When his contract is up, a fighter can consider going to Bellator if his sponsorship money isn’t good in the UFC because Bellator gives you liberty toward your sponsors. But if this fighter is a multiple bonus winner, just the possibility of landing other sponsors won’t be enough to bring him here.”

Coker said he hasn’t read Freire’s comments. The promoter was unsuccessful in winning bonuses for Strikeforce fighters when UFC parent Zuffa purchased the promotion he created in 2006. After Zuffa folded the promotion in early 2013, he sat out the remainder of his contract with the UFC and signed with the Viacom-owned Bellator this past year.

Since then, Coker has pared down the number of shows Bellator runs to increase interest in each individual show; he has signed free agents and re-opened a women’s division; and he has backed away from costly pay-per-view ventures.

Coker has touted Bellator’s ability to sign free agents; meanwhile, his staff is working on paring down the promotion’s roster to accommodate a shorter schedule as well as redrawing contracts to up pay for non-tournament bouts.

Fight-night bonuses are spendy for the industry-leading UFC, totaling $200,000 an event for a pair of $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonuses and one $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus that goes to each fighter in that bout. That doesn’t include undisclosed bonuses paid by the promotion.

It would seem with Bellator in the midst of restructuring, extra bonuses may get a back seat. But Freire is pushing the issue to the fore, and that may prompt Coker to make a move.

Bellator’s next show takes place Friday with Bellator 133 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on Spike.com.

For more on Bellator 133, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thoughts?