Bjorn Rebney

Bjorn Rebney is an American businessman who served as chairman and chief executive officer of Bellator MMA from 2008 until June 2014.

Bjorn Rebney
Born
California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known forBellator Founder and CEO
SpouseHuma Gruaz
Children2

[1]

Background

Rebney attended Ohio University on a football scholarship and then attended law school. Rebney did legal work in construction-defect then moved to the sports-law firm Steinberg Moorad & Dunn.[2] In 2001, Rebney formed a partnership with Sugar Ray Leonard. The company was Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Inc. The two had a falling out and the business dissolved. [3] Rebney is Jewish.[4]

Bellator MMA

Rebney's passion was for Mixed Martial Arts, which made him decide to start a MMA promotion.[2] In his search for investors to fund his idea of a promotion, Rebney had sixty-one investor meetings within 16 months.[5] To fund these trips to meet with investors and fighters, Rebney spent his savings and took out a second and third mortgage on his home.[2] In Rebney's 62nd meeting with investors, he met executives at Plainfield Asset Management, who were familiar with the sport from prior meetings with management of EliteXC and the International Fight League who looked for capital to stay in business. Among the investors were Tim Danaher, who was the company's vice president at the time.[5] After a follow-up meeting in New York, Plainfield agreed to provide the capital, which led to the creation of Bellator Fighting Championships.[5]

In October 2011, television and media conglomerate Viacom (now ViacomCBS) purchased majority ownership of Bellator.[6] Despite the company no longer being under Rebney's ownership, he remained Chairman and CEO of the company until June 18, 2014, when it was announced by Viacom that Rebney would be leaving the Company. In addition to Rebney, Tim Danaher left his position as president and COO.[7] He was replaced by former Strikeforce president and CEO Scott Coker.[8] Viacom executive, Kevin Kay, later explained the reason for Rebney's separation from the company. Rebney was committed to keeping Bellator a tournament-based promotion, while Kay felt it would have limited the growth of the organization.[9]


MMAAA

In November 2016, it was announced that Rebney was chosen as an advisor to the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association (MMAAA).[10] Among the members of the former organization were Georges St.Pierre, Cain Velasquez, T.J. Dillashaw, Tim Kennedy and Donald Cerrone. [11]

Personal life
Rebney's father Jack in 2010

Rebney's father was Jack Rebney, an unintended viral video star, and later subject of the 2009 documentary Winnebago Man.[12] Jack Rebney passed away in May 2023 at the age of 93. [13]

Rebney is married to Huma Gruaz, an advertising and public relations executive.[5] The couple have two children, Jonathan and Celine.[5]

References
  1. "About Bellator". www.Bellator.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  2. "Bellator: Bjorn Rebney's fight club". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  3. Rafael, Dan. "Leonard's promotion business down for count". USA Today. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  4. "Bjorn Rebney Knows Latin Calls His Mixed Martial Arts Series Bellator – It Means Warrior". Jewish Business News.
  5. "All-Access: Fight Day With Bjorn Rebney". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  6. "Viacom Buys Majority Stake In Bellator, Will Begin Airing Fights In '13". Sports Business Daily. October 26, 2011.
  7. Stupp, Dann. "Bellator announces departure of executives Bjorn Rebney and Tim Danaher". MMA Junkie. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  8. "Scott Coker replaces Bjorn Rebney as head of Bellator MMA". MMAFighting.com. June 18, 2014.
  9. Tuttle, C.J. "Spike TV President Kevin Kay on Bjorn Rebney: 'I Was Done With Doing Tournaments'". Sherdog. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  10. "Eddie Alvarez says it was 'genius' for MMAAA to bring aboard Bjorn Rebney". Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  11. "UFC Fighters form Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association". ABC News. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  12. "MMA Hour Live 10 April 2012". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  13. "Jack Rebney, viral 'Winnebago Man' and documentary subject, dies at 93". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2023-05-29.
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