Former Strikeforce founder and Bellator CEO Scott Coker is returning to MMA as co-founder and CEO of a new, yet-to-be named MMA promotion backed by $60 million in investment, with a targeted launch of early 2027.
Coker is partnering with a group of investors that includes skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and Griffin Gaming’s Peter Levin. Coker led Strikeforce until its acquisition by the UFC in 2011, before taking over as Bellator president, and transitioning to CEO until his resignation following the promotion being bought by the PFL in November 2023. Now, he is looking forward to his latest venture in the sport.
“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. 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,” Coker said