Ki MMA Lays Out Broadcast Plans and a Two-Way Talent Strategy
Ki MMA, the new promotion led by Scott Coker, is still preparing for its first events, and executive vice president Rich Chou has described how the company plans to operate. Chou, Coker and executive CJ Tuttle are veterans of earlier promotions, and Chou noted that this is the third company he and Coker have built together, now with several new people added to the team.
Finding a home on screen
Chou said he is confident in the product itself. Ki MMA will use a ring rather than a cage and is built around a 32-fighter tournament format with several fights in one night, a structure he described as a return to the sport's roots. The bigger task now is distribution. The company is working with specialists to secure its inaugural broadcast deal, and Chou called that decision as important as anything that happens in the ring, because great fights mean little if no one can watch them.
He said upcoming announcements will include the launch schedule, the host cities for live events and where fans will be able to watch.
Moneyball and the big spenders
On talent, Chou described a two-pronged approach. The core is a youth movement: recruit young fighters, develop them and put them on a path to stardom, with the Grand Prix as the main vehicle. At the same time, the company intends to stay active in free agency and use its financial resources when an established name becomes available and fits the brand.
We can play moneyball and we can also be the Yankees and Dodgers every now and then, too.
Rules are also on the table. Chou confirmed that Pride-style rules are part of the discussion and that the company is consulting fighters about possible changes. He pointed out that each U.S. state has its own regulatory differences, and that events spread over four continents could give the promotion room to experiment.
Chou added that he and Coker try to treat fighters with respect even when negotiations go badly, and he said the attendance of Fedor Emelianenko, Mark Coleman, Nate Diaz, Cris Cyborg and Royce Gracie at the Ki MMA kickoff event, figures he called legends, said a lot about how they treat fighters.