Scott Coker believes his latest mixed martial arts venture could produce a new generation of stars.
Coker recently unveiled Ki MMA at a press conference in New York City, officially unveiling the promotion, which he first announced would be in development in May. The project will start in 2027. The name of the campaign comes from the Japanese term “ki”, which refers to spirit, mind and energy. Ki MMA also adopts a format rarely seen in modern MMA where all fights take place in the ring.
Scott Coker explains how Ki MMA’s 32-fighter Grand Prix is building its first champion
Coker plans to use tournaments as a foundation for building new stars. The opening event features a 32-fighter featherweight Grand Prix split between North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Each region will host an eight-man tournament, with four continental champions advancing to the finals. The remaining fighters will then compete in two matches on the same night to determine the inaugural Ki MMA champion. Coker believes the format can speed up the process of turning potential customers into recognizable names.
“It’s going to be a great journey and I get to do it with a lot of familiar faces and a lot of friends,” Coker told MMA Junkie. “We’re putting together a company that I think is strong, well-built, and has pillars that will last for years. I feel strongly that tournaments build stars quickly. By the end of the year, we’ll have a star and we’ll have a new champion. Yes, do the fighters have to dig deep because they’re fighting twice in one night, but in the end, it’s going to happen? That you’ll be together.”
