UFC star Aljamain Sterling gives Scott Coker key advice before new MMA league launch
· Yahoo Sports
Scott Coker is plotting his return to MMA with a new global league set to launch in 2027, backed by serious funding and big names from sport, media and finance.
The former Strikeforce founder and Bellator president has already raised $60 million for the project, with Tony Hawk among the investors reportedly involved.
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Speaking to New York Post Sports, Coker revealed that the league’s first year will centre around a single weight class World Grand Prix Tournament, but a former UFC champion thinks that would not be the smartest choice.
Aljamain Sterling warns Scott Coker against leaning on tournaments
Photo by José Prestes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesAljamain Sterling has voiced concerns that tournament formats slow things down rather than building momentum in today’s MMA landscape.
Sterling posted on X: “Enough with the tournaments. It only slows things down. Hope they do well but man, tournament style is so outdated. Just make the production fun and people will tune in!”
It is a pointed comment, especially given that Coker’s promotional style has always leaned heavily on tournaments, from Strikeforce to Bellator’s Grand Prix era.
Sterling’s words also carry weight, given his own rocky relationship with the UFC, where he has become increasingly vocal about his frustrations.
He has even suggested the promotion wants to see him lose, despite his long tenure, title reign and willingness to take on top contenders in multiple divisions.
So Sterling’s message to Coker is not just about format. It is about the need for any new MMA brand to feel fresh and fan-friendly.
Coker has the backing and the experience, but Sterling’s warning is clear: nostalgia alone will not be enough to build a true alternative to the UFC.
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