MMA fixture Coker to start new fight league in '27

Scott Coker, one of the most experienced promoters in mixed martial arts history, is launching a new fight league in 2027 with $60 million in secured funding. The announcement came Thursday via press release as Coker returns to combat sports after his tenure running Bellator MMA, which was acquired by the UFC. The new league marks a significant move in the competitive MMA landscape and signals continued demand for alternatives in the sport.

Coker has assembled a notable group of investors and advisors to support the venture, including Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners, who previously backed Strikeforce—the organization Coker led before it was sold to the UFC in 2011. The financial backing and experienced team suggest Coker intends to build a legitimate, well-capitalized competitor in professional MMA.

In his statement announcing the project, Coker emphasized his commitment to athlete-centered promotion and competitive integrity. "I always knew I wanted to come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully curated team," Coker said. "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's history in combat sports provides credibility to the endeavor. His work building Strikeforce into a competitive organization before its 2011 UFC acquisition, followed by years running Bellator as a functioning alternative promotion, demonstrates his operational expertise. With nearly two years until launch and substantial capital secured, Coker's new league could represent a meaningful alternative option for fighters and MMA fans seeking a different promotional model.