Chris DeBlasio

Japan has always been part of the soul of martial arts. 🇯🇵 That’s why the meaning behind Ki/気 matters so much to us. Energy. Spirit. Life force. The power that comes from within. From the legacy of Antonio Inoki to the artistry of Japanese calligraphy, there is a history and meaning here that goes far beyond a logo. As we build the future of @ki_mmaofficial, we’re proud to carry a piece of that spirit with us. 日本の皆さん、これからよろしくお願いします。

Writer, producer, creative executive Kevin Kay, the Ki MMA CCO, is up next…

Back in your life! We are LIVE on this Wednesday 🎙️ Fury-AJ presser reaction, Aljamain Sterling, Alexander Hernandez, Khaos Williams, and Kevin Kay on the program. Join us LIVE! ▶️ nitter.gq/i/broadcasts/1yKAPPpRe…

I used to pray for times like this… Picture this: I am on a plane to Tbilisi, having just spent 9 magical months in NZ, 36000 ft up in the air, streaming the @arielhelwani show live in full HD (technology has come a loooong way), as he announces that I have joined the team as a writer of The Uncrowned Newsletter, which launches in a week. If this isn’t the most incredibly surreal moment of my life… it’s TOP 3 for sure. I am so extremely grateful to Ariel and @shaunalshatti for trusting me with this huge opportunity and giving me a chance to work alongside the absolutely phenomenal team of @uncrownedcombat. Can’t wait to start, can’t wait to earn my stripes, can’t wait to see what this project becomes ❤️‍🔥

1986 World Series. Bottom of the 10th Vin Scully on the call

Scott Coker and Rich Chou are asked how many fighters they expect to have on their roster after year one. #HelwaniShow

The name was in front of y'all on the poster... In Japanese, 気 (Ki) means Spirit, Energy or Mind. The word/letter Ki was on the invitation sent to the media #KIMMA @ki_mmaofficial

My thoughts on @ki_mmaofficial- Coker sold Strikeforce in 2011 and Bellator in 2023. You're not underwriting a UFC competitor. You're underwriting a man who is two for two at manufacturing a #2 and selling it. The timing is the thesis — Bellator's gone, ONE is a regional Thai boxing show, and PFL/MVP MMA's model is much different than what Ki has outlined. The 32-man bracket across four continents isn't a sporting decision, it's a distribution architecture. Four separable media packages, local fighters, one global final — how you monetize before you have a domestic star. And capping it at 33% of cards is the fix for the exact rigidity Coker was hired to solve at Bellator in 2014 (Bjorn's strict adherence to tournaments). Featherweight was the right first bet. 145 is where you find hungry, skilled, finish-capable fighters who are available right now. It’s also the weight class Asia actually cares about. As @rich_chou said "At 145, the world can participate." Ring over cage does three jobs: visual separation from the UFC, a better product (ropes kill wall-and-stall), and a Japan signal where the UFC is weakest. Rich Chou is the hire that matters. Matchmaking is the product; everything else is packaging. Very smart to make him more public facing. He will be running the company at some point. A good introduction. Coker's line at the presser: "We have a budget that there's not any free agent that's untouchable." That's not a throwaway. That's a man telling agents to call him. Peter Levin - He's not a passive investor. Co-founder and chairman is the governance seat. On an asset built to be sold, the chairman runs the exit — not the promoter. He backed Strikeforce. Adviser and investor before the 2011 Zuffa sale. So he has already been through one Coker build-and-exit and collected on it. His quote: Coker has "proven time and again that he can scale a business globally and profitably." His day job is media/gaming venture. Griffin has over $1B AUM with LionTree as a strategic partner. LionTree is the media-and-telecom investment bank that advises on exactly the kind of rights and M&A transactions this company will eventually need. Fedor, Couture, Royce Gracie, Rich Franklin, Nate Diaz and Cris Cyborg all showed up to a press conference for a company with no roster, no distribution deal, and no fighters signed In a sport where fighters have spent decades learning that promoters are adversaries, having that many legends lend their name to an unbuilt company is the clearest signal available that Coker's reputation for dealing straight with talent survived two sales and several decades. That's the asset a startup promotion actually needs, because his near-term job is convincing people with real leverage to sign with something that doesn't exist yet. And note who was standing there: Cyborg is the current PFL featherweight champion and Nate Diaz.

This is what I thought PFL should have morphed into this year and suggested as much... put on one or two tournament a yr, rest matchmade fights... make it a portion of product, not entire product... use tourney to microwave young talent that is ready to become a star...

A new vision begins Monday.

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My girl the GWOAT is the biggest ticket seller 🇺🇸 next step is 40,000 at Ford Field in beautiful Detroit 👊

Honored and thrilled to join this exceptional founding team, led by my longtime friend and mentor, Scott Coker. Ready to help shape the future and build something truly special in the sport we love #SoulRebels

Forever immortalized. We honor Thomas Gerbasi's life, accomplishments, and unmeasurable impact as the author who shaped UFC history. As UFC's Editorial Director for over 20 years, Gerbasi will enter the UFC Hall of Fame in the Contributor Wing.

I’m excited to be commentating this championship bout in 2 weeks. If your in ATL pull up, if not tap in on @DAZNBoxing . Going to be a great night of fights courtesy of @SalitaProm!! Some exciting talent on the card.