Scott Coker Wants PRIDE Rules Back for New Ki MMA Promotion

Scott Coker is trying to drag a slice of the PRIDE era into 2026. The former Strikeforce and Bellator boss confirmed Tuesday that he's filed a formal request with the California State Athletic Commission to tweak the rulebook for his new promotion, Ki MMA, with the matter set to be discussed at a stakeholders meeting on December 1.

The headline change, per former fighter Josh Thomson, is allowing knees to the head of a grounded opponent — a technique banned under the current unified rules but long permitted in Japanese promotions. Coker's request specifically excludes soccer kicks, stomps and linear knee strikes under Rule 533, so this isn't a full throwback to the no-holds-barred days. It's a targeted carve-out aimed at reopening the mat as a finishing zone.

What Coker Is Actually Asking For

Under the unified rules that govern the UFC and PFL, a fighter can't knee the head of an opponent who's down. Lift that restriction and grappling exchanges change overnight: scrambles get riskier, top control becomes more dangerous, and the clinch game on the ground suddenly has teeth. It's the same weapon that made RIZIN cards in Japan feel distinct from their North American counterparts.

Coker announced his return to the sport in September alongside longtime partner Rich Chou, with Ki MMA built around a 32-fighter featherweight grand prix. The bouts will take place in a ring rather than a cage — another deliberate nod to the PRIDE template and another way to stand apart from the industry's heavyweights.

Why It Matters

If CSAC signs off, Ki MMA instantly carves out its own identity in a market where the UFC and PFL both run on versions of the unified rules depending on jurisdiction. Different rules mean different fights, and a different kind of product for fans tired of the same regulatory ceiling. Coker has never been shy about counter-programming the giants, and this is a very Coker way to do it.

The catch is simple: none of it happens without the commission's blessing. California isn't known for loosening safety-driven restrictions on a whim, and knees to a grounded head is exactly the kind of change that'll draw scrutiny. December 1 is when we find out whether Coker's pitch has legs — or whether Ki MMA debuts looking a lot more conventional than he'd like.