Former Bellator MMA and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker is returning to MMA. A new MMA promotion co-founded by Coker is projected to hit the market in 2027. Coker has $60 million in funding and is teaming up with several investors, including skateboarding icon Tony Hawk.
Alongside his role as a co-founder, Coker will subsequently serve as the CEO for the still-unnamed promotion.
Scott Coker Always Wanted To Get Back Into MMA
“I always knew I wanted to come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully curated team. That time is now,” said Coker, who will serve as the company’s CEO. “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. We are building something authentic, something that belongs to the athletes and to the fans who live and breathe this sport. I’ve spent nearly two years developing this concept, and I’m thankful to Peter, all of our investors, and the team we’re putting together.”
Joining Coker as co-founder and Chairman of the Board is Griffin Gaming Partners’ Peter Levin. The two have a long-standing history. Levin acted as an advisor and investor for Strikeforce ahead of its sale to the UFC in 2011.
“Scott is a generational operator in the world of combat sports,” said Levin. “He has proven time and again that he can scale a business globally and profitably. His ‘fighter-first’ orientation has earned him loyalty and admiration from MMA athletes around the globe and across generations. He’s a world-beater, and I’m looking forward, yet again, to embarking on this journey together.”
“Scott Coker is one of the few operators in combat sports who has built winning franchises at a global scale, and he has done it by putting athletes first. The sport has reached a moment where a generation of world-class talent deserves a clear path to the top, and Scott has the experience, the relationships, and the vision to deliver it. We’re proud to lead this round and partner with Scott, Peter, and this group of investors to build something the athletes and the fans deserve,” said Benjamin Grubbs, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Creator Sports Capital.
New Details
The league gears up for a global launch in early 2027. The company will reveal its complete leadership lineup in the weeks ahead. In addition, they will soon release more details about the official name, structure, fighter roster, and fight schedules.
Scott Coker Launches New MMA League in 2027 With $60m Venture