Scott Coker responds to Cris Cyborg’s free agency plans

Former UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg recently stated that she plans to test her value as a free agent once her current UFC contract expires. That contract will conclude after her featherweight showdown with Felicia Spencer a UFC 240 in Edmonton in July. If Cyborg does indeed become a free agent, it sounds like she can expect a meeting with Bellator boss Scott Coker.

“Listen, if you are a free agent, give us a call. This is a Viacom-backed company and we will take care of the fighters that move the needle for us,” Coker explained during a recent media scrum (transcript via MMA Mania). “So, if she is free one day, please give us a call.”

Cris Cyborg and Scott Coker have plenty of history together, as Coker was also the show runner at Strikeforce, where Cyborg spent some of the best years of her fighting career and ruled as the featherweight champion.

Cyborg recently took issue with Dana White claiming that she did not want to rematch Amanda Nunes — the woman that stole the featherweight title from her in December.

“I was at home and watching the press conference and I cannot believe Dana White said that,” Cyborg told ESPN. “The opportunity is coming and I have the opportunity to see my value with other promoters. I think it’s cool to see that before you can hear anything that you don’t have value. Let’s see what another promoter has to say.”

Given the growing divide between Cyborg and the UFC, it seems quite likely that we could see her fighting for Scott Coker and Bellator in the future. Then again, that’s not her only option. ONE Championship has been scooping up free agents like crazy lately, and the Professional Fighters League recently launched a lightweight division that Cris Cyborg might well be interested in joining.

Needless to say, whether it’s with Scott Coker and Bellator, Dana White and the UFC, or with someone else, Cris Cyborg has options.

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/12/2019.