Scott Coker still bullish on Danny Sabatello's Bellator future despite submission loss in Japan

Scott Coker still sees plenty of potential in Danny Sabatello.

Sabatello (14-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) was submitted by Magomed Magomedov (20-3 MMA, 4-2 BMMA) in this first round this past Saturday at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, near Tokyo.

The brash 30-year-old American Top Team fighter has now lost two of his past three, but Coker doesn’t think his stock dropped too much.

“He’s a young kid with tremendous talent,” Coker said at the Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 post-fight press conference. “We have a lot of high hopes for his future fighting in Bellator. He had a very tough opponent with Magomed Magomedov, but the loss doesn’t make me feel like he’s going to be any less of a fighter. He’s a young kid. We’re going to continue to help build his career, and hopefully he’ll come back very shortly.”

Sabatello released a statement on social media after the loss, and vows to reach his title goal eventually.

“What a brutal game. It’s what makes it so beautiful. One blink of the eye and it’s death. Sharp for every second or enjoy regret. My run to the belt is about to be special.”

What a brutal game. It’s what makes it so beautiful. One blink of the eye and it’s death. Sharp for every second or enjoy regret. My run to the belt is about to be special.

— Danny Sabatello (@ShockThisWorld) July 30, 2023

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator x Rizin 2.