Former Bellator boss Coker to launch new fight league

Scott Coker is the former president of Bellator and Strikeforce Former Bellator and Strikeforce boss Scott Coker has announced plans to launch a fight league next year which he hopes will become a "global brand in MMA". The project is backed by $60m (£44. 7m) in funding, Coker said.

He stated it will involve investors from within sport, media, technology and finance. Coker, 63, is regarded as a pioneer in MMA after being instrumental in the rise of former promotion Strikeforce, which was purchased by the UFC's parent company Zuffa in 2011. His last major role was at Bellator, where he was the promotion's president until it was acquired by the PFL at the end of 2023.

"I always knew that I would come back when the time was right, with the right vision and a carefully assembled team. That time has arrived," said Coker, who will serve as the company's CEO. "There is a huge demand for a new global brand in MMA.

This new league is about going back to basics: 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 fans who live and breathe this sport. " Details including the organisation's name, structure and athletes are yet to be announced.