Veteran combat sports promoter Scott Coker is looking to channel the spirit of legendary Japanese mixed martial arts organization PRIDE as he prepares for the official launch of his new promotion, Ki MMA.
On Tuesday, Coker announced that he has submitted a formal request to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to discuss implementing specific rule modifications for Ki MMA. While the promotion is not seeking to reintroduce soccer kicks or direct stomps to a downed opponent, Coker’s proposed adjustments would mark a significant departure from the standard North American framework, steering the sport closer to the global rules utilized by prominent international organizations like RIZIN.
According to former professional fighter and analyst Josh Thomson, Coker is specifically petitioning the athletic commission for permission to allow knees to the head of a grounded opponent. Under the current unified rules of mixed martial arts used widely across the United States, striking a grounded opponent with a knee to the head is strictly prohibited, a restriction that has long shaped the tactical landscape of wrestling and grappling exchanges on the canvas.
Coker formally outlined his vision in a brief statement released on Tuesday, emphasizing a continuous desire for the sport to progress.
"I’ve always believed MMA should keep evolving," Coker stated. "Ki MMA has formally requested a rule change to bring elements of the global MMA rules into the unified rules, excluding soccer kicks, stomps and linear knee strikes as per Rule 533. We’ve asked CSAC to discuss this topic at the Dec. 1 stakeholders meeting."
If the California State Athletic Commission accepts the request, the topic will be officially addressed and debated during the upcoming stakeholders meeting scheduled for December 1.
The push for rule evolution comes on the heels of Coker’s high-profile return to the combat sports industry. This past September, Coker announced his comeback alongside longtime business partner and executive Rich Chou, introducing the newly minted Ki MMA organization to the public. Coker is a widely recognized figure in the industry, having previously served as the chief executive officer of Strikeforce before later heading Bellator MMA, where he oversaw numerous major international events, grand prix tournaments, and high-profile fighter rosters.
Unlike many contemporary promotions that operate inside a traditional chain-link cage, Ki MMA is slated to break from modern North American convention by hosting its bouts inside a ring. The organization’s inaugural venture is already drawing significant attention from the combat sports community, with plans currently underway for a massive 32-fighter featherweight grand prix tournament.
Should Coker and his promotional team successfully persuade the CSAC to alter the regulatory approach for Ki MMA, the inclusion of grounded knees could fundamentally alter how athletes approach grappling, takedown defense, and guard play within the promotion. Allowing knees to a grounded opponent would reintroduce a tactical element popularized during the peak era of PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, a style of fighting that many veteran fans and fighters continue to view as a more complete and fluid test of mixed martial arts proficiency.
Furthermore, securing such a rule change would sharply distinguish Ki MMA from established North American powerhouses like the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the Professional Fighters League (PFL), both of which adhere closely to varying iterations of the unified rules depending on the athletic commissions governing their respective event locations. By carving out a distinct regulatory identity, Coker hopes to capture the imagination of hard-core fight fans who have long advocated for a more globalized rule set in the United States.
All eyes will now turn to the California State Athletic Commission as officials review the formal submission ahead of the December 1 stakeholders meeting, where the future regulatory landscape of Ki MMA will hang in the balance.
