Scott Coker pushes California regulators to overhaul MMA rules ahead of Ki MMA launch

Scott Coker has submitted a formal request to the California State Athletic Commission to consider changes to the MMA ruleset, as his new promotion Ki MMA prepares for its first event in 2027.

The former head of Strikeforce and Bellator wants to incorporate elements of the global MMA rules into the existing Unified Rules of MMA. The proposal, however, would stop short of allowing soccer kicks, stomps, and what Coker’s statement terms “linear knee strikes” — techniques permitted under some international rulesets but long excluded from major North American competition.

Coker announced the move on Instagram, framing it as part of a broader philosophy around the sport’s development. “I’ve always believed MMA should keep evolving,” he wrote. “Ki MMA has formally requested a rule change to bring elements of the Global MMA Rules into the Unified Rules, excluding soccer kicks, stomps and linear knee strikes as per Rule 533. We’ve asked CSAC to discuss this topic at the Dec. 1 stakeholders meeting.”

The request targets the CSAC’s December 1 stakeholders meeting, giving California’s regulatory body a defined deadline to open the conversation. Whether the commission agrees to take up the proposal — let alone approve any changes — remains to be seen, but the move signals that Coker intends Ki MMA to operate under a distinct competitive framework from the outset.

Coker unveiled Ki MMA earlier this year after departing Bellator, the promotion he had led since 2014. The new venture is not expected to hold its debut card until 2027, leaving a window for regulatory groundwork to be laid in California, one of the most influential athletic commissions in the United States.