Overview
- Coker has secured $60 million in seed financing and named six senior executives to run the venture, with Kevin Kay as chief content officer and Rich Chou as executive vice president of athlete relations.
- The promotion is planned to debut in January 2027 and aims to hold about 12 events in its first year while signing roughly 100 to 150 fighters to populate its roster.
- Coker confirmed on Tuesday that the product will mix superfights with a limited tournament element — one tournament in 2027 — rather than being a tournament-only league.
- He says he turned down roughly $40 million in additional offers to avoid dilution and preserve founder control, and the company says the $60 million provides multiyear runway while broadcast and distribution deals remain unresolved.
- Coker’s strategy draws on his Strikeforce and Bellator track record of finding and building stars, and the promotion faces key risks including securing media rights, filling a deep roster, and competing with the UFC’s dominant market position.