Bellator President Scott Coker doubts James Krause will be spotted in the corner of his promotion cage anytime soon.
Krause has been banned from attending UFC events due to an ongoing investigation by the government into allegations that insider information was influencing fight wagers. Darrick Minner, who has been coached by Krause since 2020 lost via TKO to Shayilan nuerdanbieke in the first round at UFC Vegas 64 last November. This was after Minner’s injury. There was also suspicious betting activity during the hour leading to the preliminary bout.
The growing scandal resulted in the commissions in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta placing a ban on UFC betting (Alberta has since lifted the ban following the UFC taking action against Krause).
Following Saturday’s Bellator 289 event in Uncasville, Conn., Coker spoke to the media about the Krause situation and what it could mean for the business of MMA.
” That’s to me completely unacceptable,” Coker stated. “Everybody has to put their foot down. The legal department will be looking at the situation right now, and may make suggestions for possible changes.
“But that kind of behavior is just not acceptable because it could ruin a lot of good things for a lot of people that have worked a lot of years to get to a certain point. This is unacceptable in the sport. It’s unacceptable.”
The UFC took a strong stance against Krause, and all fighters who were associated with him. Minner was since released by the organization. A number of high-profile fighters are tied to Krause, including UFC interim flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who fights undisputed champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 on Jan. 21.
Coker recently released a statement in support of the UFC suspending Krause, saying “Bellator MMA is a promotion that highly values the importance of independent regulation of our sport, and we will continue to abide by the mandates of the regulatory bodies which sanction and oversee our events.”
Asked whether Krause would be able to corner someone at a Bellator tournament, Coker said that they will decide.
” The thing about cornering fighters, that’s something we’d need to ask Mike Mazzulli. “Is he going to allow the guy to get a license? Because every cornerman, every fighter, every referee, every judge, any official in this building has to be licensed by the state.
“If the state licenses him then I would have to speak to legal internal, but until that investigation is completed .”
I believe these people will have trouble getting licensed in other states.
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/12/11/23503495/scott-coker-james-krause-unlikely-licensed-bellator-events-totally-unacceptable-ufc-gambling-scandal?rand=96749
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