Scott Coker Seeks Rule Change to Allow Knees on Ground

Scott Coker has formally requested that the California State Athletic Commission consider allowing knees to the head of a grounded opponent in his new Ki MMA promotion, a technique banned under the current unified rules.

Coker made the request public Tuesday, saying he wants the commission to take up the issue at a stakeholders meeting scheduled for December 1. The proposal would not bring back soccer kicks or stomps to a downed opponent, techniques still barred under Rule 533. It's narrowly focused on knee strikes thrown at the head of a fighter who is on the mat, a weapon fighters haven't had access to in North American MMA since the unified rules standardized the sport.

What Rule Change Is Ki MMA Asking For?

Ki MMA wants grounded knees added to its rulebook, a staple of Japanese promotions like RIZIN but one that was stripped out of American MMA when the unified rules took shape. Coker framed the push as part of a broader belief that "MMA should keep evolving," and the request specifically carves out soccer kicks, stomps and linear knees to avoid the more controversial strikes tied to old PRIDE-era rules. If the commission grants it, Ki MMA fighters would be able to drive knees into an opponent's head during scrambles and top-control positions, a phase of the fight where strikes are currently limited to punches and short elbows.

Why This Matters for Ki MMA's Launch

Ki MMA is still a new promotion, launched by Coker and longtime business partner Rich Chou after Coker's run atop Strikeforce and Bellator, and its first major event is expected to be a 32-fighter featherweight grand prix contested in a ring rather than a cage. Adding grounded knees would be the clearest signal yet that Coker wants Ki MMA to carve out its own identity rather than mirror the UFC or PFL, both of which run on versions of the unified rules. A ring format paired with PRIDE-style knee rules would give the promotion a genuinely different look and could appeal to fighters who came up on the regional and international circuits where those strikes are legal.

For bettors, a rules change like this would be worth tracking closely once Ki MMA's first fights get booked. Grounded knees tend to produce quicker finishes in top-control and scramble positions, which could push totals and method-of-victory markets toward strikes rather than submissions or decisions once the promotion's cards take shape. None of that matters yet without an approved rule and a fight card to price, but it's the kind of structural detail that shifts how oddsmakers will eventually frame Ki MMA bouts compared to standard unified-rules cards.

The CSAC has not yet ruled on the request, and no date beyond the December 1 meeting has been set for a decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What rule change is Scott Coker requesting for Ki MMA?

Scott Coker has asked the California State Athletic Commission to allow knees to the head of a grounded opponent in Ki MMA, while soccer kicks, stomps and linear knees would remain banned.

When will the CSAC discuss Ki MMA's rule request?

The California State Athletic Commission is expected to discuss Scott Coker's request at a stakeholders meeting on December 1.

What is Ki MMA's first event?

Ki MMA, launched by Scott Coker and Rich Chou, is expected to debut with a 32-fighter featherweight grand prix tournament contested in a ring instead of a cage.