Bellator MMA are looking to make waves in 2015 and have made a statement of intent by approaching former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
Positive moves were expected by many when former Strikeforce CEO and founder Scott Coker took the helm as president of the Viacom owned promotion following the departure of Bjorn Rebney on June 18 earlier this year.
Coker recently explained to MMAFighting.com that Bellator MMA have reached out to Lesnar; however, formal negotiations are yet to take place.
“There hasn’t been any serious dialogue,” Coker said. “But when the time comes to have serious dialogue, we’ll be right there.”
Lesnar is currently under contract with live action theater company WWE, and reigns as the promotion’s ‘kayfabe’ champion of the world. Lesnar’s lucrative WWE deal is said to be ending shortly after their Wrestlemania 31 show which takes place on March 29.
A hugely anticipated return to mixed martial arts is a strong possibility with Lesnar reportedly feeling competitive and in good health once again. However, said return is far from official with the WWE likely to put another lucrative part-time offer of their own on the table. Furthermore, it’s been said that Lesnar feels loyal to the UFC, and that if he is to fight again, it will be inside the UFC octagon.
As one of the biggest draws in UFC history, Lesnar (5-3) left the Las Vegas based promotion in 2011 following a first round TKO loss at the hands of Dutch heavyweight Alistair Overeem. With Lesnar currently retired from MMA competition, it’s believed by many that the 37-year-old was not performing at 100% towards the back end of his UFC tenure due to recovering from a grueling battle with diverticulitis.
“I think that he’s a big needle mover,” Coker said. “There have been several years that have passed and I think that he still has the WWE limelight.”
“There’s not going to be a fighter on the planet we can’t afford and have access to,” Coker said.
