While the UFC has cemented itself as having most of the top fighters in the world, rival promotion Bellator looks to be taking a different approach under the leadership of Scott Coker. Bellator seems to have no problem booking fighters who are either past their prime, in twilight of their career, or with big names, just to pop their television ratings. Never was this more evident than when they booked Kimbo Slice to face Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris at Bellator 149 in February of 2016.
As one of the most highly respected combat sports journalists in the world, Dave Meltzer’s “Wrestling Observer” Newsletter highlights some of the best and worst in combat sports and pro wrestling for it’s MMA awards. It probably won’t come as shock to learn that the Kimbo vs. Dada 5000 fight was given the “Most disgusting promotional tactic” award for 2016.
Check out some of the awards below.
MOST DISGUSTING PROMOTIONAL TACTIC
1. BELLATOR KIMBO VS. DADA 500 FIGHT 198
2. WWE Brock Lesnar doing hardway to Randy Orton 176
3. Aldo Ross (Adam Rose) mug shot T-shirt 46
4. Lucha Underground Intergender matches 39
5. Rizin booking Gabi Garcia vs. Shinobu Kandori 38
6. TNA treatment of Billy Corgan 21
7. WWE redoing Montreal screw job with Natalya and Bret Hart 18
8. Sasha Banks fake retirement playing off Daniel Bryan 18
9. Rizin booking Kazushi Sakuraba in fights 14
