Scott Coker Was Hoping For Pitbull vs. Caldwell In Grand Prix Quarterfinals

Two division Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull and former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Darrion Caldwell have both advanced in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix. 

Pitbull would choose Pedro Carvalho as his opponent for the quarterfinals of the grand prix, but Bellator President Scott Coker was hoping he would choose Caldwell.

“My only thought was I thought when ‘Pitbull’ had the shot, I thought he was going to fight DC [Caldwell],” Coker said at the Bellator 228 post-fight press conference (via Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting). “ I thought he wanted him really bad. But you know, it went the other way, so now we have some interesting fights on both sides and if you keep winning, you’ll fight each other anyway at the end, so it’s going to be fine.”

Caldwell wound up with Adam Borics as a quarterfinal round opponent and they are scheduled to meet this January.

All the quarterfinal round bouts were determined during a special selection show at Bellator 228 and Coker hopes for more such specials in the future.

“I liked it,” Coker said. “I thought it was great. It’s something that I’ll go back and look at the footage and talk to the guys but honestly I think it was a fun way to present the tournament and pick the tournament. It was a random draw but there was a little twist at the end so I liked it and we’ll see what happens.”

There is still a chance that both Pitbull and Caldwell can meet in the grand prix, but both would have to make it to the finals for that to happen.