Veteran promoter Scott Coker revealed he is building a new MMA organization set to launch in January 2027, describing it as a new Strikeforce. The promotion will debut with a grand prix tournament format and plans a marathon of events in the first half of the year. Coker stated his strategy will mirror how he built Strikeforce, focusing on developing new stars through tournament formats while also signing top free agents to strengthen the roster from top to bottom. He expressed confidence that within one to two years the promotion will have a very serious fighter roster. Coker emphasized that tournament formats help create new stars and believes his team excels at matchmaking and talent identification. The announcement represents Coker's return to promotion building after his Bellator tenure.
Scott Coker announced on May 23 that he is building a brand-new MMA promotion set to launch in January 2027, marking his return to promotion building following his long tenure at Bellator.
Coker, one of the most experienced figures in the business, described the venture as a spiritual successor to Strikeforce, the promotion he founded and ran before it was acquired by the UFC in 2011. He stated his approach will mirror the strategy that made Strikeforce a legitimate rival on the American MMA landscape — identifying and developing talent from the ground up rather than relying solely on established names.
The promotion will debut with a grand prix tournament format, and Coker outlined plans for a heavy slate of events throughout the first half of 2027. He framed tournament competition as a proven vehicle for creating new stars, giving rising fighters a stage with built-in stakes and narrative momentum across multiple bouts.
Coker said his team's strengths lie in matchmaking and talent identification, and he expressed confidence that the roster will reach a serious competitive level within one to two years of launch. The plan combines that developmental approach with the signing of top available free agents, building the promotion from both ends of the competitive spectrum simultaneously.
Why it matters
- Coker has a demonstrated track record of building a major MMA promotion from scratch, lending credibility to the January 2027 target.
- A tournament-based launch structure creates immediate storylines and could attract both established free agents and unsigned prospects.
- The announcement adds a potential new power player to the global MMA landscape at a time when the market outside the UFC has seen significant consolidation.
