Tim Danaher
- Producer
Tim Danaher became acquainted with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) while he was Vice President of Plainfield Asset Management, based in Connecticut. Danaher was a party to meetings with the owners of IFL: International Fight League (2006) (IFL), whom sought investors in their failing company. While Plainfield Asset Management did not invest in IFL, another MMA investment opportunity came in 2008 from Bjorn Rebney. Rebney approached Danaher about his idea for a tournament-based MMA promotion. Danaher set a New York meeting with Rebney, where Plainfield agreed to provide start-up funds and become majority owner in Bellator Sport Worldwide LLC. The promotion did business as Bellator Fighting Championships (2009).
Tim Danaher became Bellator's President and Chief Operating Officer, while Bjorn Rebney was named Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. On April 3, 2009, Bellator launched its "Toughest Tournaments in Sports" with the first of a series of MMA tournaments. The tournaments established many unknown fighters into notable MMA figures. Through Rebney's previous sports industry dealings, an agreement was made to air Bellator's events on ESPN Deportes. In 2010, for Bellator's second season of tournaments, the promotion moved to Fox Sports Net where it had live shows.
Bellator shows started airing on Viacom's MTV2 and EPIX. Viacom sought a greater interest in Bellator, and bought majority ownership in October 2011. Through the Viacom deal, in 2013, Bellator events were placed on Viacom's Spike network. Spike had established itself in the MMA business through its past relationships with premier promotion, UFC. With the resources of Viacom, Bellator grew to be the consensus second major MMA promotion.
While Tim Danaher worked out of public view, Bjorn Rebney became Bellator's most prominent executive. On June 18, 2014, Spike network President Kevin Kay announced that Rebney and Danaher were removed from their positions. Strikeforce (2006) founder Scott Coker was hired to replace them. Kay later stated that the change was a result of differences in vision because Rebney--and possibly Danaher-- wanted to retain the tournament format.
Tim Danaher became Bellator's President and Chief Operating Officer, while Bjorn Rebney was named Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. On April 3, 2009, Bellator launched its "Toughest Tournaments in Sports" with the first of a series of MMA tournaments. The tournaments established many unknown fighters into notable MMA figures. Through Rebney's previous sports industry dealings, an agreement was made to air Bellator's events on ESPN Deportes. In 2010, for Bellator's second season of tournaments, the promotion moved to Fox Sports Net where it had live shows.
Bellator shows started airing on Viacom's MTV2 and EPIX. Viacom sought a greater interest in Bellator, and bought majority ownership in October 2011. Through the Viacom deal, in 2013, Bellator events were placed on Viacom's Spike network. Spike had established itself in the MMA business through its past relationships with premier promotion, UFC. With the resources of Viacom, Bellator grew to be the consensus second major MMA promotion.
While Tim Danaher worked out of public view, Bjorn Rebney became Bellator's most prominent executive. On June 18, 2014, Spike network President Kevin Kay announced that Rebney and Danaher were removed from their positions. Strikeforce (2006) founder Scott Coker was hired to replace them. Kay later stated that the change was a result of differences in vision because Rebney--and possibly Danaher-- wanted to retain the tournament format.
