In recent months, Scott Coker and Bellator have come under criticism for its matchmaking policies. Booking fights like Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000 has led to the promotion facing derision and scorn from the vast majority of fans and media. However, whilst the above mentioned fights are receiving all the press – positive and negative – Bellator have been building for the future and making shrewd recruitments that could lead to long term success, if they pan out.
Bellator have added to their recent acquisitions of Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune with another NCAA All-American wrestler in Jarod Trice. Just like Ruth and Fortune, Trice has no MMA fights to his name, amateur or otherwise, but does possess a world class wrestling base and plenty of potential.
Whilst their backgrounds in wrestling doesn’t automatically make them great MMA fighters, the base is there to be built upon and with wrestlers being renowned for having a great work ethic, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the future is bright for these three fighters, if they can stay injury free and aren’t rushed into their new profession.
Bellator’s recruitment of these fighters show a shrewder side to Coker than what we’re used to and gives fans of Bellator encouragement that the future is being looked out for – as opposed to the current short term plan of using ‘has beens’ to headline events. There appears to be a hint of a long term plan in place at Bellator with these signings, and in a sport as unpredictable as MMA, it’s a welcoming addition.
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DOM BURY
LEAD WRITER
Welsh BJJ Blue Belt and founding member of the Gunnar Nelson Fan club. Known vagabond and all round scumbag.
