Bjorn Rebney, Tim Danaher leave Bellator MMA

Bjorn Rebney, the former chairman and CEO for Bellator MMA at the NYSE last October. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)

Bjorn Rebney, the founder, chairman and CEO of Bellator MMA and the company's president and COO, Tim Danaher, will leave their positions effective immediately.

Spike TV made the announcement in a news release Wednesday morning and no replacements have been named. Bellator MMA was founded by Rebney in 2007.

Viacom ended up buying Bellator in October 2011 and Spike TV started broadcasting Bellator fights last year.

“It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded. I have great pride in having turned my vision into reality, a thriving business with television distribution to over 140 countries around the world, a partnership with one of the world’s largest entertainment giants and wide array of sponsors, partners and strategic allies all over the globe,” Rebney said in the release, via Newsday.

“This has been a wonderful eight plus years of creation, development and success.

“I will miss the courageous, strong and dedicated fighters I have had the pleasure of promoting, and equally, I will miss the incredibly hard working, remarkable team that has become a family for me over the years. Viacom and Tim and I differed in our views of the right strategic direction for Bellator, but Tim and I both wish them well.”

WAGENHEIM: UFC 174: Demetrious Johnson defends belt to show he's a top draw