Scott Coker is Back: Former Bellator Boss Set to Launch New MMA Promotion

Scott Coker Is Bringing Familiar Faces Back Into MMA

The former Strikeforce head and Bellator president has spent the past few months quietly putting together a new promotion, bringing some familiar faces from his previous ventures along for the ride. Now, after months of teasing, the 63-year-old is finally ready to show the MMA world what he has been working on.

According to various sources, Coker will officially launch the promotion during a YouTube livestream on Monday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The event will feature Coker alongside Peter Levin and longtime matchmaker Rich Chou, with the trio expected to offer the first real look at their plans for the new organization.

There's already plenty to be intrigued by. In fact, the promotion has more than $60 million in financing backing it, and Coker has previously indicated that the plan is to build a global organization capable of staging several major events each year. 

Recently, during an exclusive to "All Smoke Fight," the veteran said, "I feel like, I want to start from scratch and I want to build my own  ship." For the uninitiated, Coker built Strikeforce into one of the most important MMA promotions in the United States before the UFC acquired the organization in 2011.

Scott Coker Entering into Familiar Waters

He later took over as Bellator's president, helping turn the promotion into the UFC's biggest domestic rival for much of the 2010s. Now, as it appears, he is trying to do it again, with Rich Chou, who worked alongside Coker at Strikeforce and Bellator, being part of the new venture. 

In hindsight, the duo has a long history of taking fighters who were not yet household names and giving them a platform to become stars. As a matter of fact, Strikeforce helped build the profiles of names such as Ronda Rousey, Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, and Gilbert Melendez, among others.

Time and time again, Coker has shown that he understands what it takes to find fighters worth investing in. That is exactly what makes this comeback interesting.

The new promotion does not need to immediately sign the biggest names in the sport to make an impact. If Coker can once again identify talented fighters early and give them the right stage, the roster could look very different a couple of years from now.

2027 Could Be Interesting Year for MMA

The timing of Coker's return is interesting. For years, the UFC has been the clear center of gravity in MMA. Promotions such as Bellator, PFL, and ONE Championship have all carved out their own space, but none have come close to matching the UFC's position in the global market.

That could make Coker's return particularly intriguing. For that matter, the  PFL has also undergone a major change following its merger with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, making it another major player attempting to establish itself alongside the UFC.

Coker is now entering that mix with a sizeable financial backing, an experienced team, and decades of experience promoting combat sports.  For now, there are more questions than answers. What will it be called?

Where will the events take place? Which fighters have already signed? How often will it run shows? Perhaps most importantly, what does Coker believe MMA is missing right now? Is he bringing back the good old Pride days, as he revealed in all their glory? 

Those answers should start coming on Sept. 14.