Dana White: Scott Coker 'a much better fit' for Bellator than Bjorn Rebney was

Dana White hasn’t been shy with his feelings about Bellator MMA, and in particular its founder, Bjorn Rebney.

With Rebney’s departure earlier this week as Bellator’s CEO, many may have expected one of White’s trademark smiley faces on Twitter, a device he’s been known to use from time to time as a simple comment on developments in the MMA world that might fall into the “I told ya so” category.

White has been mostly silent about the Bellator shakeup, which saw former Strikeforce boss Scott Coker take the helm of the promotion the same day Rebney’s ouster was announced.

But on Friday night, the UFC president went on AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” for a one-on-one interview with former fighter Bas Rutten and talked about Bellator, in brief.

Regarding Bellator, White was diplomatic about Coker taking over for Rebney, whose first name he often took jabs at by calling him “Bjork” instead of “Bjorn” – which apparently will continue.

“Not only do I know Scott very well, I know the guys at Spike (TV) very well,” White said. “I was in business with them for a long time, and I think this is a much better fit for them than ‘Bjork’ was.”

Coker sold Strikeforce to Zuffa, which also owns the UFC, in March 2011. In January 2013, the promotion held its final event and was folded into the UFC. Coker was under contract for three years from the time of the sale.

Check out the video above for White’s full interview with Rutten, which includes White’s latest on his light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones; the potential for welterweight champ Johny Hendricks to fight middleweight champ Chris Weidman; featherweight champ Jose Aldo’s desire to make more money; and Chael Sonnen’s recent failed drug test and subsequent retirement.