I love MMA.  I really couldn’t care less about the promotion, if it’s a good fight, I’m watching.  I felt the need to start with that sentence just to help you understand when I say, I’m a fan of Bellator, I mean it.  I really want the organisation to succeed.  I think it’s needed for the sport to grow.  It’s a great platform that gives fighters options in a saturated marketplace when it comes to the ‘big leagues’.

Let’s start with the positives.  I was at Bellator 200.  I took half-a-day off work so I could watch the card in its entirety.  Truth be told, things didn’t quite work out as planned, my friends and I got a bit carried away at the pub so we ended up arriving during the final prelim fight.

As I entered the arena, I was impressed.  I like the way Bellator configure their set (not sure if ‘set’ is the right word but it’s what I’m going with).  I’m a fan of the ramp.  I enjoy watching the fighters walk-out and show a bit of character.

It was a great night of fights with some high calibre martial artists on display.  I left the arena a happy man.  More importantly for Bellator, so did my three friends, all of whom don’t really follow MMA.

So, if everything is rosy in the garden of Bellator, why the need for me to write this? Allow me to explain.

The other day, I was at work listening to Matt Mitrione on the MMA Hour.  As the interview finished I thought to myself, “Man, I love that guy’s perspective on things.  That fight with Bader is going to be crazy, I wonder when it’s happening.”  So I minimised the spreadsheet I was ‘working on’ and fired up a web browser and proceeded to type www.bellator.com.  The page loaded up and what I found was this:

A YouTube page.  I was confused.  So, I then googled ‘Bellator’ in case the official website URL is different and it gave me a couple of options.

So, I clicked on both Bellator.com and Bellator.com/events, and yes, you guessed it, I was led to the YouTube page.

Now there is a good chance it’s just me being an idiot.  Perhaps there is a website with all the bells and whistles and I’ve somehow managed to miss it.  If this is the case, I hold my hands up.  Although I have my own website, I’m not very good at internet’ing or computers as a whole for that matter.  Only God knows how I ended up as a project manager in IT.

The point is, it really shouldn’t be this hard to find a website.  I don’t know about you, but if I want to know more about someone or something, the first port of call is the internet and their own website.

There’s a lot being said about how Bellator air coverage of their events.  Being UK based, we’re restricted to watching coverage a week after the event takes place.  I always record the events but more often than not, because I know the results and have usually seen footage on social media, I never actually get around to watching it on my T.V.  I understand Americans have a similar issue with events that take place outside of the States.

I can live with this.  How Television networks present content seems to be outside the control of Bellator.  Scott Coker comes across like a stand-up guy and when he says it’s something they’re working on, I choose to believe him.

Web presence, however, is a different matter.  If I can make a website, I’m sure Bellator can.  I want access to the latest news and information about fighters and events.  It’s something Bellator have the opportunity to control but are choosing not to.  It’s a shame.

Bellator have an impressive roster of fighters.  It’s a good mix of established veterans and young, hungry up and coming talent.  Bellator is selling themselves short by not showing this off!

I’m a fan, let me in!!!