Scott Coker Expects Emelianenko-Sonnen Card to Exceed Interest Generated by Bellator 198

Bellator president Scott Coker has the beginnings of plan in mind for the location and type of card that will be headlined by the heavyweight grand prix semifinal matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen.

“We will probably start working on that this week. It’s probably going to end up somewhere on the East Coast,” Coker said in a post-fight media scrum (video courtesy of MMAjunkie.com). “If it was Mir vs. Chael, it’d probably end up on the West Coast. That’s what we’re thinking. We’ve already talked to a couple venues, we’re trying to work some things out.

“The next card that Fedor fights in for the semifinals is going to be a stacked card once again.”

The legendary Russian punched his ticket to the next round of the bracket courtesy of a 48-second knockout of ex-UFC champ Frank Mir in the Bellator 198 headliner on Saturday at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. Sonnen, meanwhile, has scored back-to-back victories over Wanderlei Silva and Quinton Jackson under the Bellator banner, the latter of which allowed him to advance to the round of four in the heavyweight grand prix.

Coker believes that Emelianenko vs. Sonnen has the potential to do very well in terms of interest and ratings. On the heels of a night that saw one of the sport’s most revered figures turn back the clock, the Bellator boss has high hopes for the Russian’s next appearance.

“I think this [Bellator 198] was a historic moment for the company. I think as a fight fan, this is a historic moment for me and MMA, and I think that fight with Chael could be even bigger than what we saw tonight.”