So which fighters will make the leap from SF to UFC right away?

Maybe so, even though SF was doing ok there weren't making bigbucks and were starting to get a big overhead carrying more and bigger contracts and maybe that's why they bailed now while they were still on the upside of things.

 

The word is they bailed because their majority stake holders had no interest in MMA any more and wanted to focus on other sports mainly hockey. In other words SF grew too big and they had no interest in taking it further so instead looked for a buyer to offload it and cash out.
Coker tried to buy it but met opposition because the UFC simply outbidded him as well as outbidding Pro Elite. Coup for the UFC of course but ultimately it appears it wasn't what Coker wanted which is hardly surprising as he was with the start up since 1985 and built the business as its figure head.
Unfortunately for Coker, much the same way Dana is the figure head for the UFC, his stake was far less than the other stake holders and thus it wasn't really his decision. Same as it wouldn't be Dana's if the the Ferrtita's decided to fold Zuffa or the UFC.

 

I wonder where this leaves coker long term? He might be an asset to keep after his contracts up depending on what exactly happens to SF of course. He might be a good guy to keep on especially when dealing with guys like Barnett and daley who should have a fair chance at this merger.
most fighters have good things to say about coker he might be good for a position like that.

 

Coker would have negotiated his own terms as is usually the case for CEO's during an acquisition. I would imagine the UFC would want to keep him on though even if SF folds merely because of all the relationships his forged over the years, his decades worth of experience and his professional relationship with other large players in and around the industry.