Scott Coker is officially returning to the MMA business with plans to launch a new global fight league backed by major investors, media executives, and sports personalities including skateboarding icon Tony Hawk.
The former Bellator president and Strikeforce founder confirmed this week that his new MMA promotion has secured $60 million in funding ahead of a planned global debut in 2027. The project, which does not yet have an official name, is already generating strong interest across the combat sports world because of Coker’s track record and the scale of the investment behind it.
Coker will serve as co founder and CEO of the new company alongside Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners, who joins as co founder and chairman of the board.
Scott Coker eyes fresh chapter in MMA
For many MMA fans, Coker’s return feels significant because of the role he played in shaping modern mixed martial arts outside the UFC.
Before leading Bellator from 2014 until the promotion’s sale to the Professional Fighters League in 2023, Coker built Strikeforce into one of the most respected MMA organizations in the world. Strikeforce helped launch or elevate stars such as Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, Cris Cyborg, Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, and Gina Carano before many eventually moved to the UFC.
Coker believes the current MMA landscape is ready for something different.
I always knew I wanted to come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully curated team, Coker told The Hollywood Reporter. 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.”
Coker also emphasized that the promotion plans to build around the fighters themselves.
We are building something authentic, something that belongs to the athletes and to the fans who live and breathe this sport, he added.
Heavy investment signals major ambition
The financial backing behind the league immediately separates it from many MMA startups that struggle to gain traction.
The investment round is led by Creator Sports Capital with participation from Griffin Gaming Partners. Several high profile names from sports, entertainment, finance, and technology have also joined the project.
Among the investors are Tony Hawk, D.C. United owner Steve Kaplan, Upper Deck, and executives connected to NFL and NBA ownership groups. The advisory team includes former media executives from companies such as Sony Pictures Television, Paramount Network, and TelevisaUnivision.
Peter Levin, who previously advised and invested in Strikeforce, believes Coker remains one of the sport’s most important operators.
“Scott is a generational operator in the world of combat sports,” Levin said. “He has proven time and again that he can scale a business globally and profitably.”
Levin also pointed to Coker’s long standing reputation among fighters.
His fighter first orientation has earned him loyalty and admiration from MMA athletes around the globe and across generations, Levin explained.
A possible alternative to the UFC model
While details surrounding the structure of the league remain limited, early comments suggest the promotion could move away from the traditional UFC style rankings system.
Reports have described the project as a “fight league,” which may indicate a season based or tournament structure rather than standard matchmaking.
That possibility could help differentiate the organization in a crowded MMA landscape currently dominated by the UFC.
Despite the UFC’s global success, industry figures continue to believe there is room for another major player in the market. MMA has experienced massive worldwide growth over the past decade, with estimates placing the sport’s global fanbase above 600 million people.
Levin believes the demand for premium MMA content continues to outgrow supply.
There’s tons of pent up demand for triple A MMA content and very little supply, Levin said during an interview discussing the project.
The success of recent crossover events and streaming partnerships has also strengthened confidence in combat sports as a major entertainment property.
Fighter development expected to remain central focus
One of Coker’s biggest strengths throughout his career has been talent development. Many fighters who later became UFC champions first built their reputations under his guidance in Strikeforce or Bellator.
Coker was also instrumental in promoting women’s MMA long before it became mainstream. Strikeforce famously hosted the first women’s fight to headline a major MMA event when Gina Carano faced Cris Cyborg in 2009.
Levin believes that ability to identify future stars remains one of Coker’s greatest assets.
He flies around the world and finds the biggest names in the sport before they are famous, Levin said. He promotes them and they become stars.
That philosophy is expected to carry into the new league as the company builds its roster ahead of launch.
MMA landscape could be entering new phase
The timing of Coker’s return is especially interesting given recent shifts across combat sports.
Streaming platforms are investing heavily in live sports, crossover fights continue attracting huge audiences, and promotions outside the UFC are searching for new ways to stand out. Recent events involving stars like Ronda Rousey and Jake Paul have shown that alternative MMA and combat sports content can still capture mainstream attention.
Coker’s new league appears designed to tap into that evolving market while offering fighters another global platform.
More details regarding athletes, event locations, schedules, and league structure are expected in the coming months. Until then, the MMA industry will be watching closely to see whether Scott Coker can once again build a promotion capable of changing the sport’s landscape.
Follow FIGHTCORE for more updates.
