Bjorn Rebney Comments On Bellator MMA Departure, Former Strikeforce CEO Replacing Him

Viacom, the parent company of Bellator, announced today that chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney, the founder of the company, and President and COO Tim Danaher have the left company, effective immediately.

"It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded. I have great pride in having turned my vision into reality, a thriving business with television distribution to over 140 countries around the world, a partnership with one of the world's largest entertainment giants and wide array of sponsors, partners and strategic allies all over the globe," Rebney said in a statement. "This has been a wonderful eight plus years of creation, development and success. I will miss the courageous, strong and dedicated fighters I have had the pleasure of promoting, and equally, I will miss the incredibly hard working, remarkable team that has become a family for me over the years.

"Viacom and Tim and I differed in our views of the right strategic direction for Bellator, but Tim and I both wish them well."

"I would like to thank Bjorn and Tim on behalf of Spike and Viacom for their dedication and hard work building Bellator from the ground up," said Spike TV president Kevin Kay. "They worked tirelessly in getting Bellator to where it is today. They were great partners to work with and we wish them all the best."

Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker is the new President of the company and will report to Kay. Kay noted that Coker will lead the company "from a tournament-based organization to a more traditional model with big fights."