Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney told Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting the following regarding UFC vet Leonard Garcia:
"Not only did Bellator not offer Leonard a deal, but we've never spoken to Leonard," Rebney said. "I will say this and it's probably important for you to get out there because it's important for us as well. For some reason that we don't understand, there are a collection of people out there making phone calls to different gyms and different managers right now claiming to be talent development people with Bellator and Spike.
"So, I have no idea how Leonard Garcia got contacted or by who, but it wasn't by Bellator. We won't be signing nor do we have any interest in signing Leonard."
Garcia's management was quick to respond, via MMA Junkie:
"In light of Bellator's alleged legal chicanery with their own champions like Eddie Alvarez and Zach Makovsky, and high-profile fighters like Leonard Garcia making known their desire to avoid a potentially bad situation, it is not surprising Bellator is trying to get ahead of the bad PR plaguing their promotion," Garcia's reps at Haymaker's Empire Sports Management wrote in a statement. "However, this story about a 'phantom' Bellator representative making phony offers to fighters just strains credulity.
"One must wonder, if this had actually been occurring, why Bellator waited until now - after Garcia made known his and other fighters' mistrust of their promotion - to suddenly decide to make mention of 'The Bellator Phantom,'" the statement reads. "The claim appears childish and far-fetched at best."
It's important to note that Haymaker's Empire Sports Management President Jerry Villasenor said he and his team did not speak with anyone from Bellator and that the promotion instead contacted Garcia directly. Unfortunately, he said neither he nor Garcia could identify the Bellator employee that reached out with the offer.
Hard to decide which party is less credible in this instance.
Latest From Our Partners
- MMA Fighters on the Hot Seat (BR)
- 15 Worst Ways to Lose an MMA Fight (BR)
- 20 Fighters UFC Should Build Around (BR)
- Survival Guide for Facing UFC Champions (BR)
- Unknown Legendary MMA Fighters (BR)
- Best Chins by UFC Division (BR)
- 20 Dream Fights to Be Made (BR)
- Latest MMA Rumors (SI)