Scott Coker launches Ki MMA with 32-fighter Grand Prix to crown a champion in one year

Scott Coker formally introduced Ki MMA at a press conference in New York, revealing the full structure of a promotion he first announced in May that is scheduled to launch in 2027 with a ring-based format and a continent-spanning tournament at its core.

The promotion takes its name from the Japanese concept of “ki” — encompassing spirit, mind and energy — and will distinguish itself from mainstream MMA by staging all bouts in a ring rather than a cage, a format rarely seen in the modern era of the sport.

Coker’s blueprint for building stars centres on a 32-fighter featherweight Grand Prix divided across four regions: North America, South America, Asia and Europe. Each region will host an eight-man tournament, with the four continental champions advancing to a final event. On that night, the remaining fighters will compete in two bouts to determine the inaugural Ki MMA champion — meaning finalists face the prospect of fighting twice in a single evening.

“I do feel strongly about tournaments building stars quickly,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “By the end of the year, we will have a star, and we will have a new champion. Yes, will the fighters have to dig deep because of fighting two times in one night at the end? That’s going to be tough, but that’s why you’ve got to have your ki together.”

Coker, whose previous promotions include Strikeforce and Bellator, framed Ki MMA as a long-term project built on sustainable foundations. “We’re going to put together a company that I think is going to be strong, well built, and have the pillars that are going to sustain for years to come,” he said, adding that the venture would involve “a lot of familiar faces and a lot of friends.”

The Grand Prix format is designed to compress the star-making timeline that typically takes years in MMA, giving unknown prospects a structured path to recognition within a single competitive cycle. Whether the model can deliver on that ambition will become clearer when Ki MMA opens its doors in 2027.