Huge Announcement: Today marks the official
launch of FIGHT NIGHT AT THE TECH! This event will feature premier
mixed martial arts series at Tech CU Arena on Saturday, May 18.Tickets go on sale Monday 3/18 at 10AM. pic.twitter.com/tLH6cXnZRG
— Tech CU Arena (@TechCUArena)
March 13, 2024
If former Bellator MMA head Scott Coker had to sign a
non-compete agreement after leaving the company, it was not very
strict.
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The Tech
CU Arena, which operates in San Jose, California, and is also
home to the San Jose Barracuda AHL hockey team, made an
announcement on Wednesday that it would be the location of a new
MMA league. The organization, called “Fight Night at the Tech,” is
co-founded by Coker and longtime MMA veteran Gilbert
Melendez. On May 18, the first of a series of events will run
in this arena.
Details are otherwise sparse on the new promotion, including any
combatants or broadcast information.
MMA Junkie reported that there will be a mix of “seasoned
veterans and rising prospects” competing on the events. This will
be Coker’s first MMA venture since leaving Bellator after Professional Fighters League purchased it in
late 2023. The former Taekwondo practitioner first made his way
into combat sports operation by creating Strikeforce—then a kickboxing league—in 1985, and
oversaw its transition to MMA in 2006 until Zuffa bought and
eventually absorbed it in 2014.
After spending years fighting,
commentating,analyzing,coaching, I’m excited to expand my
contribution to Bay Area MMA.I am teaming up with one of the greatest promoters in combat sports
history @ScottCoker
to bring you Fight Night at Tech May 18th at Tech CU Arena in San
Jose… pic.twitter.com/Fismi58B0X— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez)
March 14, 2024
Melendez posted proudly about the news on social
media on Thursday, writing, “After spend years fighting,
commentating, analyzing, coaching, I’m excited to expand my
contribution to Bay Area MMA. I am teaming up with one of the
greatest promoters in combat sports history, Scott Coker, to bring
you Fight Night at Tech May 18th at Tech CU Arena in San Jose CA.”