Bjorn Rebney

Bjorn Rebney
Born California, U.S.
Residence Newport Beach, California
Nationality American
Known for Bellator MMA Founder and CEO
Spouse(s) Huma Gruaz
Children 2

Bjorn Rebney is an American businessman who served as chairman and chief executive officer of Bellator MMA.[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] Rebney is Jewish.[3]

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 MMA promotion, Rebney had sixty-one investor meetings within 16 months.[4] 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 wanted capital to stay in business.[4] After a follow-up meeting in New York, Plainfield agreed to provide the capital which led to the creation of Bellator Fighting Championships.[4]

On June 18, 2014, it was announced by Spike TV that Rebney has parted ways with the company.[5]

MMAAA

In 2016, Rebney was chosen as an advisor to the Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association (MMAAA).[6]

Personal life

Rebney's father is Jack Rebney, subject of the documentary Winnebago Man (2009).[7]

Rebney is married to Huma Gruaz, an advertising and public relations executive.[4] The couple have two children, Jonathan and Celine.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "About Bellator". www.Bellator.com. www.Bellator.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bellator: Bjorn Rebney's fight club". money.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "Bjorn Rebney Knows Latin Calls His Mixed Martial Arts Series Bellator – It Means Warrior". Jewish Business News.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "All-Access: Fight Day With Bjorn Rebney". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Stupp, Dann. "Bellator announces departure of executives Bjorn Rebney and Tim Danaher". MMA Junkie. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Eddie Alvarez says it was 'genius' for MMAAA to bring aboard Bjorn Rebney". Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "MMA Hour Live 10 April 2012". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
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