Scott Coker, the founder and former CEO of Strikeforce, former president of Bellator MMA and founder of Fight Night at the Tech, has announced plans to launch a new MMA “fight league” next year.
Coker will serve as CEO, while Griffin Gaming Partners Co-Founder Peter Levin, who previously backed Strikeforce before selling to the UFC in 2011, will also be a co-founder in the new, unnamed fight promotion.
In addition, the league has secured $60 million in initial funding from a diverse group of investors, including skateboard legend Tony Hawk, D.C. United Owner Steve Kaplan, Visional Founder Swimmy Minami, former Fortress Investment Group Vice-Chairman Dean Dakolias, and investment firm Upper Deck.
Coker’s last major role in the sports was at Bellator, where he served as president until its acquisition by the Professional Fighters League (PFL) three years ago. He said that the new promotion would be founded on returning core values such as athlete integrity, competitive fairness and fan engagement.
“I always knew I wanted to come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully curated team,” said Coker. “There is an incredible demand for a fresh, new global brand in MMA. This new league is about returning to what matters; the integrity of competition, respect for the athletes and sharing their remarkable journeys with the world.”
No details have yet been disclosed about the name of the promotion, the structure and the participating athletes. The league is expected to debut in January 2027 and feature a field “way north of eight” fighters, according to Coker.
Shifting MMA Landscape
From launching his career in Strikeforce kickboxing in 1985 and expanding into MMA in 2006, Coker has largely been credited with developing stars such as Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold and Miesha Tate at Strikeforce, before they later joined the UFC.
During Coker’s tenure at Strikeforce, Cris Cyborg faced Gina Carano in 2009 in what was the first women’s fight to ever headline a major MMA show.
The UFC recently closed a $7.7 billion rights deal with Paramount, indicating growing commercial interest in the sport, while American influencer Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) promoted a fight between Rousey and Carano that was watched by a record 17 million viewers on Netflix despite lasting less than 15 seconds.
Olympic Future
In December, the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association launched a new international MMA federation called the Federation of International Mixed Martial Arts (FIMMA) to unify the sport under clear global governance and secure its eventual place in the Olympic Games.
The launch came in response to calls from athletes and national federations for a new world governing body that could drive progress through an athlete-centered strategy.
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