Veteran mixed martial arts promoter Scott Coker announced his new venture, Ki MMA, during a media event Monday in New York.
The global MMA promotion is scheduled to launch in early 2027. It will feature a 32-fighter World Grand Prix featherweight tournament, with events in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. In addition to its primary tournament format, Ki MMA plans on featuring Super Fights involving well-established names in the sport.
"Some of the most rewarding moments of my career have been watching fighters go from prospects to stars on the world stage, and that's what we're setting out to do with Ki MMA," Coker said in a statement. "We're giving fighters across four continents a clear path to becoming our first World Grand Prix champion. We want to build stars while staying true to the discipline, character and respect that drew us to martial arts in the first place."
All Ki MMA bouts will be contested in a ring.
Coker, the former head of Strikeforce and Bellator MMA, secured $60 million in funding earlier this year and is joined by Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners on the executive team.
Under Coker's leadership, Strikeforce held its first MMA event in 2006 and built the careers of prominent names, including Daniel Cormier, Ronda Rousey, Luke Rockhold, Miesha Tate and Robbie Lawler. The company was sold to UFC in 2011.