Bellator unsure how to proceed if James Krause gets licensed to corner

Bellator CEO Scott Coker was on hand recently after a successful event. Bellator 289 delivered a solid block of entertainment with Raufeon Stots defeating mouthy Italian Donny Sabatello. In the co main event Liz Carmouche armbarred Vasquez.

Bellator events are still widely available for betting – across North America – unlike UFC which found itself penalized for James Krause scandal.

Betting on UFC events is still banned in Canada’s biggest state – Ontario. Alberta has since turned around on the ban in the fall out from UFC distancing themselves from Krause.

Bellator’s CEO previously released a statement stressing the importance of the ‘integrity of MMA’:

“As a lifelong martial artist, integrity and honor have been the foundation upon which I have built my career as a Mixed Martial Arts promoter, and I believe that it is of utmost importance that the integrity of MMA remains unquestioned,” Coker stated in the release, sent on Friday night. “It is my understanding that certain regulatory agencies have taken action that they deem necessary to ensure that any appearance of impropriety is removed from our sport, and I support those actions.

“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.”

Coker addressed the Krause situation again last night explaining:
“That, to me, is totally unacceptable. Everybody has to put their foot down, and I do know that the legal department is taking a look at what’s going on right now. And they’ll come out with what they feel are some changes we might have to make.”

When asked if Bellator would allow Krause to be a cornerman, Coker provided the following response:
“That’s something you’d have to ask Mike Mazzulli. Is he gonna allow the guy to get a license, because every cornerman, fighter, referee, every judge, any official in this building has to be licensed by the state. So if the state license him, then I’d have to talk to the legal team internally.”

Bellator often holds events under the jurisdiction of the Mohegan Tribe. Mike Mazzulli is the Director of Athletic Regulation. He is also is also the current president of the ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions).