Garrett Gonzales and Paul Fontaine break down Scott Coker's surprise new venture, Ki MMA, unveiled at a September 14 press conference in New York. It's the Strikeforce and Bellator founder's first new promotion in years, and it's already got some quirks worth talking about — starting with the decision to hold every fight in a ring instead of a cage, which Coker says simply makes for a more entertaining watch.
The backing is real money and real names: a $60 million war chest with an ownership group that includes skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and D.C. United owner Steve Kaplan, alongside Griffin Gaming Partners' Peter Levin. The promotion's actual on-ring product kicks off in 2027 with a 32-man featherweight Grand Prix split into regional brackets across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, built around finding the next wave of global talent.
Garrett and Paul are upfront that nobody knows yet how Ki MMA is supposed to actually compete with the UFC, Bellator, or PFL for fighters and eyeballs. But they make the case that competing for market share isn't the only bar worth clearing — if Coker's promotion delivers a genuinely fun, well-produced show that's a blast to watch live, that alone makes it worth paying attention to.
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