Ki MMA is born: Here's everything we learned about Scott Coker's new MMA promotion for 2027

Scott Coker, a seasoned MMA promoter, has launched a new MMA promotion called Ki MMA, set to officially commence in the first quarter of 2027. The inaugural event will showcase fights in a ring format, marking a departure from the traditional cage matches. Coker and his partners, Peter Levin and Rich Chou, unveiled the details of this fresh promotion during a press conference in New York.

The name "Ki MMA" is derived from the martial arts concept of "Ki," which signifies an inner spirit or force. Coker explained that the name embodies the essence of martial arts energy. The promotion will initially focus on the featherweight division (145 pounds) for its debut tournament, which is scheduled to take place across four continents - North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Each continent will host its own eight-man qualifier, culminating in a global grand finale featuring four continental champions.

Coker emphasized that Ki MMA aims to be a platform for young, promising featherweight prospects. The ideal candidates are fighters with less than 10 fights, aged between 18 to 25 years. The tournament format includes quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, with the twist of fighters facing off twice in one night. While the tournament will be a significant part of Ki MMA's lineup, it will constitute only 33% of the card, with the remaining 67% reserved for regular fights.

Notable names from Coker's past, such as Randy Couture, Fedor Emelianenko, Nate Diaz, Rich Franklin, Royce Gracie, and current PFL featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, attended the press conference. Despite no specific fighters being announced at the event, Coker indicated that the promotion aims to sign a wide range of top-tier athletes, given its substantial budget and willingness to sign any free agent at the highest level.