Bellator CEO Claims Promotion Has Been Looking to Insure Fighters
by Brent Brookhouse on May 19, 2011 7:29 PM EDT
in Bellator News
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The UFC blew some minds when they announced that they were implementing accident insurance for their fighters. Hell, some people even suggested that this would impact talent acquisition going forward. The UFC's move put some pressure on other promotions to step up their game. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney says that they've been looking into getting accident insurance for quite some time. Via MMA Fighting:
"I can tell you I've been reading all of the articles and all the spokespersons for the UFC have said that it's been a long and exhaustive process," Rebney said, "and there were very few carriers that were willing to execute on it, there were very few people that were willing to provide the insurance that they were seeking.
"I can tell you first hand that I know that to be true because we have been looking for alternatives on that front for over a year ourselves. It's not an easy policy to obtain, it's not easy to put into motion, but I think it's great for the sport; I think it's great for the fighters. It's something that we are going to continue to look at, and I say kudos for the UFC for pulling it off."
It's up to each individual person if they believe that Rebney and company had really been looking into accident insurance prior to the UFC's move. The real value is in if a promotion like Bellator can pull off the same kind of deal. Not because it matters if they can "compete" with the UFC. But because the more fighters are able to train without the worry of an injury crippling them financially, the better.
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In shocking news Bjorn Rebney tries to get his name in the news
"I'm a little worried about being a slut"
~ Bobby Hill
It’s up to each individual person if they believe that Rebney and company had really been looking into accident insurance prior to the UFC’s move.
Why doubt it?
Because he said nothing about it until after the UFC did it
and Rebney strikes no one as “honest Bjorn”.
Whether he truly did look into it or not, it doesn’t sound like anything more than “oh me too, me too”.
"I'm a little worried about being a slut"
~ Bobby Hill
by Chris Hines on May 19, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s a pretty silly and UFC-obsessed way of looking at it. Was he supposed to go to the press and boldly announce that they’re looking at insurance options, but haven’t actually acquired anything?
Yeah I'm completely UFC obsessed man, in fact they pay me to post only positive stuff about the UFC.
I clearly said “Whether he truly did look into it or not, it doesn’t sound like anything more than "oh me too, me too”.
As in I have no idea whether he did or not but it’s going to LOOK that way… and it will LOOK that way.
"I'm a little worried about being a slut"
~ Bobby Hill
by Chris Hines on May 19, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn't doubt it.
I don’t have a dog or anything, but if one day I do, I don’t want him to allegedly be in danger.
by Gitaroo_Dude on May 19, 2011 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Because Bjorn Rebney said it?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Editor, HeadKickLegend.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Why doubt it?
Because Bjorn Rebney’s supposedly best quality as a CEO is his salesmanship to investors and he’s not afraid to stretch the truth by a mile. He has nothing to lose by lying here as it’s extremely difficult to disprove his claim. Furthermore Bellator is the one real competitor for talent left to the UFC, and while Bellator can’t compete for big-money names they were doing well snapping up prospects, and Zuffa’s new insurance benefits are going to make that harder. It might ease the minds of some fighters under contract to Bellator or considering signing with them if they think Bellator is at least trying to get them insurance.
Finally Zuffa is making money hand-over-fist while Bellator is millions of dollars in the hole right now. Bjorn Rebney needs ways to continue justifying Bellator’s existence to their hedge fund backer, Plainfield Asset Management. They cannot financially afford an extra huge expenditure like this while they’re still bleeding money, even if it’s ethically the right thing to do. If there’s any truth to Bjorn’s comments, my guess is Bellator either merely tried to look at the hypothetical cost of insuring their fighters for some day way down the road when they’re making a profit, or they’ve just been looking into insuring their champions and/or biggest stars.
I think he just wants to be in the news
There is no way that Bellator can afford to insure their fighters.
I give Bjorn some props.
I was expecting his quote to be “They said it’s been a long and exhausting process but it’s not. We have been looking into it and it’s a pretty simple thing to do”. I was pleasantly surprised.
" Its like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I coulda been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong, you know, and I'm sorry cause I could be wrong right now, I could be wrong, but I'm right..." Bama
Wow, you were looking into it. Great.
I don’t like him.
"Every time I talk on the phone with someone who doesn’t know me, they call me "ma’am"." .....cut to a couple months later....... "You can alter that sig now. I spoke with someone I know on the phone and she repeatedly addressed me as a female. Fuck." - Scott C. Broussard
Breaking news: Bellator incapable of things UFC is capable of
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Editor, HeadKickLegend.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on May 19, 2011 8:01 PM EDT reply actions
breaking news
why no mention on here about tito posting bail for a murder for hire suspect. also just for laughs did anyone see the latest bloodstaine lane rant about bloddyanus and brent shithouse lol.
That guy hasn't committed suicide yet
Because of the state of JMMA?
" Its like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I coulda been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong, you know, and I'm sorry cause I could be wrong right now, I could be wrong, but I'm right..." Bama
I don't think Bellator is in a good enough place financially
To pull this off.
Haven’t there been reports that they are losing money off of each show?
June 18th, 2011:
Fabricio Werdoomsday
Game Overeem
I will NEVER doubt the greatness of GSP again
Start becoming interested in this movie right NOW!http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_tree_of_life_2011/
Almost there...
They did mail coupons to all their fighters for a free spinal exam at Dr. Jellyfinger’s Chiropractic Clinic and Nutritional Supplement Warehouse in Baton Rouge. Gotta start somewhere, and this is a good first step. An ounce of prevention….
Hey, Bjorn.
Googling “insurance for fighters” hardly qualifies as looking into it.
"Ellismania is, along with the black President, a symbol of the future." - Mayhem Miller
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