Cris Cyborg believes today’s MMA audience is ready to embrace the sport’s tournament roots, and she’s putting her own career behind that belief as part of Scott Coker’s new promotion, Ki MMA.
“I come from the classic Chute Box style where we did multiple fights in one night,” Cyborg said to Home of Fight. “This new generation of fans is going to go back to that old tournament style and learn to appreciate how hard the legends fought.”
Cyborg brings serious credibility to that statement. She’s a five-time world champion across Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, Bellator, and PFL, a résumé built largely under the old-school, multi-fight tournament format she referenced, one that Scott Coker is now looking to bring back through Ki MMA’s 32-man Grand Prix structure.
MMA Legends in Attendance for Ki MMA’s Launch
Cyborg wasn’t alone in showing up to back Coker’s new venture. A long list of MMA legends and former champions were present for the announcement, signaling strong support from the sport’s veteran community:
- Josh Thomson
- Frank Shamrock
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Randy Couture
- Eddie Alvarez
- Cris Cyborg
- Gilbert Melendez
- Duane Ludwig
- Tyron Woodley
- Nate Diaz
- Royce Gracie
- Renzo Gracie
- Mark Coleman
- Rich Franklin
The turnout reflects the kind of old-guard credibility Scott Coker built during his time running Strikeforce and Bellator, two promotions that helped launch or elevate several of the names on that list. With Ki MMA set to debut in the first quarter of 2027, built around regional tournament brackets and a same-night semifinal-final format, the presence of so many respected veterans suggests the promotion is positioning itself as a callback to an earlier era of the sport, one Cris Cyborg clearly believes today’s fans are ready to rediscover.
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