Scott Coker launches Ki MMA with 32-fighter global Grand Prix planned for 2027

Scott Coker, the promoter who built Strikeforce and Bellator MMA into major forces in combat sports, officially re-entered the industry on Tuesday with the announcement of Ki MMA — pronounced “Key MMA” — a new promotion set to launch in early 2026.

Coker will be joined by veteran matchmaker Rich Chou, his longtime collaborator at both Strikeforce and Bellator, as the pair look to establish a fresh competitor in a market now dominated by the UFC and PFL.

The centrepiece of Ki MMA’s early ambitions is a 32-fighter Grand Prix tournament scheduled for 2027. The competition will feature fighters drawn from across the globe, with events planned to take place on four different continents. The tournament will be contested in a single weight class, though Coker has not yet specified which division will be selected.

One notable structural choice sets Ki MMA apart from most of its rivals: fights will take place in a ring rather than a cage. The decision marks a deliberate aesthetic and competitive departure from the enclosed octagon or cage format that has become standard across the sport’s biggest promotions.

Further details on the promotion — including fighter signings, the chosen weight class, and the specific markets targeted for events — are expected to follow from the formal press conference announcing the launch.

Coker’s return comes after his departure from Bellator following its acquisition by PFL in 2023. With Ki MMA, he is positioning himself once again as an alternative to the UFC’s dominance, leaning on his track record of building promotions that have served as legitimate proving grounds and talent pipelines for the sport’s elite.