Scott Coker is back, for some reason.
The former Strikeforce and Bellator boss is making his return to mixed martial arts (MMA) after scoring $60 million in financing — and he’s bringing a few familiar faces along for the ride, including former Viacom CFO Wade Davis, as well as former Spike TV head cheese Kevin Kay.
“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,” Coker said in today’s release. “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.”
Coker will serve as CEO for the promotion, which has yet to reveal its official name or an exact date for its debut, (projected for early 2027). Joining Coker as co-founder is former Strikeforce investor and advisor Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners, who will serve as Chairman of the Board.
“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.”
Coker was absorbed by UFC after the promotion acquired Strikeforce back in early 2011. He was later cut loose and eventually resurfaced in Bellator MMA, replacing the oft-maligned Bjorn Rebney and Bellator President Tim Danaher in June 2014. It was worth it just for the Spikeforce jokes.
Bellator ceased to exist after getting scooped up by PFL in late 2023.
“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,” said Benjamin Grubbs, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Creator Sports Capital. “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.”
Coker is widely-recognized as the most fighter-friendly promoter in the industry but faces stiff competition from UFC and now MVP MMA in terms of available real estate. There’s also the GFL clown show that continues to threaten us with a debut event in 2027, but I’m not sure anyone is losing sleep over that silliness.
That said, Coker and Co. may need to find the black ASAP, as $60 million in funding may only be enough to last them one year in the live events business.
