Scott Coker Unveils Ki MMA With 32-Fighter Grand Prix and a Ring

Scott Coker is officially back in the MMA promotion business, and he is doing it his way.

Coker and business partner Peter Y. Levin have unveiled Ki MMA, a new mixed martial arts promotion built around a 32-fighter World Grand Prix at featherweight. The promotion plans to launch in the first quarter of 2027 with events across four continents, per Sherdog.

The format is ambitious. Four continental tournaments in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America will each feature eight-fighter single-elimination brackets. The four continental champions will then advance to a one-night World Grand Prix Final featuring two semifinals and a championship bout. The inaugural champion will need five consecutive victories to earn the title.

One detail that will turn heads: Ki MMA fights will take place inside a ring, not a cage. Coker has long been associated with cage-based promotions through his years running Bellator and Strikeforce, making the ring choice a deliberate stylistic break.

The promotion will also feature "Super Fights" with established fighters across multiple weight classes alongside the tournament, though no specific fighters have been announced.

"We're giving fighters across four continents a clear path to becoming our first World Grand Prix champion," Coker said, per Sherdog. "We want to build stars while staying true to the discipline, character and respect that drew us to martial arts in the first place."

Levin added: "We're building Ki MMA for the long term, with the resources, team, and discipline to grow responsibly."

No broadcast deal has been announced. The promotion enters a market where the UFC dominates, PFL owns the Bellator assets, and ONE Championship holds a strong international presence.