The MMA world was hit with some potentially game-changing news this morning when Spike TV announced Bellator MMA Founder, Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney and president and COO Tim Danaher have parted ways with the company, effective immediately.

What the move means for the future of the Viacom-owned MMA organization is unknown at this time, but it only took a few seconds for rumors to circulate about who will step in as Rebney’s replacement.

The leading man for the vacant position appears to be Scott Coker. The former CEO of the now-defunct Strikeforce organization is free of ties to the UFC after his non-compete clause with Zuffa recently came to an end. However, no official announcement regarding Coker has been made at this time.

The immediate response to the breaking news came from a mix of those who expected it, those who were surprised by it, and those who were outright shocked. To see commentary from the MMA community on Rebney’s departure from Bellato, check out these Twitter reactions.

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Bellator announces departure of executives Bjorn Rebney and Tim Danaher http://t.co/SeYhGJJBSR via @mmajunkie — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) June 18, 2014

Heard big rumblings all day re: @BellatorMMA. I'm told @cokersf has joined the promotion. Multiple sources say announcement is imminent. — Josh Gross (@yay_yee) June 18, 2014

"It's with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded." It's official. @BjornRebney has left @BellatorMMA — Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) June 18, 2014

Regardless of what went on ,it was Fun building this company w You @BjornRebney Good luck in Your future endeavors brother ! — Edward Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 18, 2014

I wonder what Alvarez thinks, seeing Bjorn leaving Bellator before him? — John S. Nash (@heynottheface) June 18, 2014

What, no smiley face or emoji from Dana yet? — Mark La Monica (@LaMonicaMark) June 18, 2014

I'm gonna miss fighting for @BjornRebney dude always treated me right! Let's see what the future holds. — Brennan Ward (@SwaggleBerryFin) June 18, 2014

Interesting to see how the MMA landscape changes with Bjorn Rebney leaving Bellator. Don't think he got the credit he deserved. — Todd Martin (@ToddMartinMMA) June 18, 2014

Best of luck @BjornRebney! Was great working with you! — Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) June 18, 2014

@PhenomLima Great working with you Doug. You're one of the most exciting fighters I've ever watched fight. Good luck to you champ! — Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) June 18, 2014

Rebney is probably going to be blamed for Bellator's direction over the past year or two. Not sure that was really his vision. — Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) June 18, 2014

Bjorn is out. Bellator should be interesting going forward. I'll say this: they do away with tournament format and they'll dig their grave. — Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney made @BellatorMMA a great MMA organization to fight for and the last 8 years has shown that . Once again Thank You — #FollowTheLaw (@brianhallmma) June 18, 2014

Bjorn Rebney will be missed. He had the coolest name of any promoter in the history of the sport. — Jason (@JasonAmadi) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney couldn't believe what I seeing this morning. It's was a pleasure working for you boss. Best of luck in whatever you do. — Paul Bradley (@paulbradley184) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney are the rumors true,R you leaving bellator? If so,it was a honor&a blessing working w/U,im sure many will agree.bless U &yours — justin baesman (@JustinBaesman) June 18, 2014

No word just yet on what happens to the key players within the Bellator organization, but I hear Coker will be bringing in some old friends. — Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 18, 2014

So is @FakeCokerSF going to make a Twitter comeback? Because that would be great. — Erik Fontanez (@Erik_Fontanez) June 18, 2014

The return of Scott Coker! #MMA — Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) June 18, 2014

Ughhhh ohhh — Herman Terrado (@HermanTerrado) June 18, 2014

Good to have Coker 'back in the mix.' I've long missed the "check back in a couple of weeks" line of answering to media questions. — Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) June 18, 2014

If Coker actually does take over Coker+@SpikeTV + Viacom Resources + Cokers 25 years experience + his… http://t.co/YgwXufahhA — Mike Kogan (@MikeKogan) June 18, 2014

Viacom/Spike/Bellator bringing Scott Coker on to run things would be the wisest choice they could make. Now lose the Bellator name. — Pat Miletich (@patmiletich) June 18, 2014

Congrats to Scott Coker it's good for all of MMA — Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) June 18, 2014

Gonna be sick to be able to work with Coker for @BellatorMMA — RyanMartinez (@970King) June 18, 2014

Best of luck sir it was a pleasure fighting for you @BjornRebney Godspeed — Josh Appelt (@joshappelt) June 18, 2014

@arielhelwani Love me some Scott Coker! — Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) June 18, 2014

@Rampage4real so now u feel some typa way cuz your dick rider got fired and now u wanna retire!!!? — King Mo (@KingMoFH) June 18, 2014

@KingMoFH haha u mad cause I took yo number 1spot huh? U can't fight! It's MMA not high school wrestling,u suck Mo,and u are boring. Shut up — Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) June 18, 2014

Best of luck for the future @BjornRebney and thanks for the respect and opportunity @BellatorMMA — Daniel Weichel (@danielweichel) June 18, 2014

Looks like I have a new boss. I'm very excited to see what changes come @cokersf @BellatorMMA http://t.co/VbNHzsBqGS — Saad Awad (@SAADMMA) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney good luck to you in the future… Definitely not the news I was expecting to wake up to today. It was a pleasure workin for ya — Raphael Butler (@RealThaSilencer) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney helped facilitate the fast climb of unknown fighters like myself and @SwaggleBerryFin…extremely grateful. #LongLivedTheKing — Matt Bessette (@ManglerBJJ) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney despite our recent differences, there were times you were very good to me and my brother. Good luck in your future endeavours. — Patricio Freire (@PatricioPitbull) June 18, 2014

@PatricioPitbull You and your brother @PatrickyPitbull are great warriors with huge hearts. I will miss you both. — Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) June 18, 2014

UFC buys Bellator.Tears fill my eyes as I see Dana bulling mma & locking it in a basement like some kind of weird over protective step dad — James Thompson (@JColossus) June 18, 2014

Sad to see you leave @BjornRebney !!!! Great to meet you & thanks letting me have the pleasure of fighting inside the Bellator cage — John Alessio (@johnalessio79) June 18, 2014

Thx for everything @BjornRebney , good luck to u in ur next endeavor! — Rick Hawn (@RickHawnMMA) June 18, 2014

My friend if this is true, I'll miss you = really admire you. Many thanks for all the warmth with us! @BjornRebney — Eduardo Dantas (@DuduDantasMMA) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney success in his new Jornada and do not miss my show in the coming months, I will dedicate to you! — Eduardo Dantas (@DuduDantasMMA) June 18, 2014

Former Strikeforce head Scott Coker named Bellator MMA president http://t.co/nn1Yvclk5v via @mmajunkie — MMAjunkie (@MMAjunkie) June 18, 2014

Congratulations to Scott Coker on be coming president of Bellator. Always good to see MMA expanding — Royce Gracie (@realroyce) June 18, 2014

Scott Coker is back! Maybe he can put Bellator $40 million in the hole like he did StrikeForce. — Campbell McLaren (@campbellcombate) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney was always pretty good to me! I'm Interested in how this whole thing is gonna play out… — David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) June 18, 2014

.@BjornRebney I want to thank you for all the support you have shown me. No matter where you land you will always be a friend of mine. — JENNIFER SWIFT (@Jennifer_SwifT) June 18, 2014

@BjornRebney @BellatorPres thanks for everything you two did for me.You always respected me and treated me well.Good luck with everything — Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) June 18, 2014

@spiketv @BellatorMMA what happens to the tournament?Am I still going to face Held for the LW final?I'd like the chance to earn a title shot — Patricky Freire (@PatrickyPitbull) June 18, 2014

For more on Bellator’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.