Former Strikeforce, Bellator boss Scott Coker announces ‘powerful return’ to MMA with $60 million in financing
Scott Coker is back, for some reason. The former Strikeforce and Bellator boss is making his return to mixed martial arts (MMA) after scoring $60 million in financing — and he’s bringing a few familiar faces along for the ride, including former Viacom CFO Wade Davis, as well as former Spike TV head cheese Kevin […]
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 7: Scott Coker speaks with the media at the Bellator 300 post-fight press conference on October 7, 2023, at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Scott Coker is back, for some reason. The former Strikeforce and Bellator boss is making his return to mixed martial arts (MMA) after scoring $60 million in financing — and he’s bringing a few familiar faces along for the ride, including former Viacom CFO Wade Davis, as well as former Spike TV head cheese Kevin Kay.
“I always knew I wanted to come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully curated team. That time is now,” Coker said in today’s release. “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. We are building something authentic, something that belongs to the athletes and to the fans who live and breathe this sport. I’ve spent nearly two years developing this concept, and I’m thankful to Peter, all of our investors and the team we’re putting together.
” Coker will serve as CEO for the promotion, which has yet to reveal its official name or an exact date for its debut, (projected for early 2027). Joining Coker as co-founder is former Strikeforce investor and advisor Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Partners, who will serve as Chairman of the Board. “Scott is a generational operator in the world of combat sports,” said Levin.