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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Major change is heading to Bellator, as founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney, along with President Tim Danaher, are out of the organization.
Spike TV announced the move in a press release on Wednesday, taking Rebney out of the company he founded. His replacement hasn't been officially announced, but several reports state former Strikeforce head Scott Coker will be taking over.
"It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded," Rebney said. "I have great pride in having turned my vision into reality, a thriving business with television distribution to over 140 countries around the world, a partnership with one of the world’s largest entertainment giants and wide array of sponsors, partners and strategic allies all over the globe. This has been a wonderful eight plus years of creation, development and success. I will miss the courageous, strong and dedicated fighters I have had the pleasure of promoting, and equally, I will miss the incredibly hard working, remarkable team that has become a family for me over the years. Viacom and Tim and I differed in our views of the right strategic direction for Bellator, but Tim and I both wish them well."
Spike TV's Kevin Kay added, "I would like to thank Bjorn and Tim on behalf of Spike and Viacom for their dedication and hard work building Bellator from the ground up. They worked tirelessly in getting Bellator to where it is today. They were great partners to work with and we wish them all the best."
Penick's Analysis: This has been in the works for a very long time according to a number of reports, so this doesn't come as that much of a surprise, but this is still a huge shakeup. Viacom may go a wildly different direction with Coker at the helm, but again, that signing isn't yet official.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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