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Bellator MMA 'in talks' to host fights before NASCAR races
After a hasty press release caused NASCAR to rebuke its statement, Bellator MMA said on Monday it was “in talks” to field pre-race fights at NASCAR races in 2017.
The MMA sanctioning body has a sponsorship agreement with Monster Energy, the company that sponsors NASCAR’s Cup Series. The updated press release said the partnership between the two means “mixed martial arts will be included as pre-race activation exclusively for fans in attendance” if the agreement is finalized.
The lack of anything definitive was a step back from Bellator’s first statement on Monday afternoon. The MMA group initially said it would be hosting fights before races at the All-Star race, August Bristol race, October Talladega race and at Homestead. The release even included a quote from Bellator’s president saying his company was partnering with the “Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.”
After the first release, NASCAR issued a statement saying it had no relationship with Bellator. Bristol Motor Speedway also said it was unaware of a Bellator event happening before its night race.
Whoops. Bellator president Scott Coker’s new quote only includes Monster Energy as a partner and not the Cup Series.
If MMA fights come to fruition before NASCAR races, there’s a chance that fans can see fighters with bloody faces before the race and drivers with bloody faces after.
Sorry, we had to make a Kyle Busch joke after his attempt to punch Joey Logano after Las Vegas.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
