My Road to Becoming an MMA Manager

I love mixed martial arts. It’s the first thing I think of when I wake up, and it’s the last thing I think of before I fall asleep. I enjoy everything about the sport, from the bright lights shining into the cage showcasing the fighters to the music blasting through the arena, creating an atmosphere of excitement. You can feel the buzz of the crowd, that crescendos into a tidal wave with every knockout and submission. But most of all, I love being able to help my fighters pursue their dreams. Their dreams are my dreams. The same way that combat is in a fighter's blood, supporting my athletes is in mine.  

My journey began in 2007, when I was a summer associate at a Las Vegas law firm. One of the partners I worked for sat on the Nevada State Athletic Commission and brought me cageside with him for UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson, an indelible moment in my life. 

I was meeting people in the business that I had long looked up to, while experiencing the energy within the MGM Grand Arena. I was so close to the action that the blood and sweat of the fighters splashed onto me. It was an intoxicating evening that changed something deep within me. I finally knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had to be a part of this sport.  

The beginning of a dream

I wish I could say that the rest was history, but the ebb and flow of life led me elsewhere. I graduated from law school in 2008 amidst one of the worst economic crises in history. My leap into the world of MMA would take time. Still, I did everything I could to be involved and propel the sport forward. I worked in Albany to help legalize MMA in New York. I attended and presented at MMA conferences. I networked with promotions, athletic commissions, and other high-level executives in the industry.

2008 also marked the beginning of another life-changing journey: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  I immediately fell in love with all aspects of the sport: the complexities of techniques, the camaraderie, and how it blended into MMA. I simply loved being a student of BJJ, and I’ve been fortunate to train under many great instructors, and even managed to win my share of competitions over the years! I am especially proud to be a part of the prestigious Renzo Gracie Academy, where I (finally!) received my purple belt from Igor Gracie in 2019.

Earning my purple belt was harder than law school

As I grew as a person, professional, and martial artist, I continued to seek the best and most-fulfilling path to the sport I loved. I knew what my calling was, I just needed to figure out how I wanted to answer that call. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to do things my way: organically and on my own terms. Barney Foltman, my high school wrestling coach, always said, “the harder you work, the luckier you are.” And that is exactly what happened.  

In 2017, a friend of mine, who is a professional fighter, asked me to help him get to the next level. It was a simple request of reaching out to a major promotion in order to see if we could get him a bout. I envisioned getting him a fight, high-profile sponsors, and going to the top together.

While reality reared it’s ever-present head and illustrated how difficult even getting a response from a matchmaker was, I kept at it. The drive to help my athlete made it easier to maintain my persistence, because it wasn’t about me, it was about the athlete.

Eventually, I was finally able to get him a fight with Bellator. He had a great fight against an opponent with much more experience and took a tough decision loss.  But for him, that night showed that he belonged. He belonged in the big leagues with the best in the world. For me, it showed me that this was real.

Less than two years later in the summer of 2019, I was able to get him on the Bellator card at one of the most prestigious venues in the world: Madison Square Garden.  He brought home a dominant victory in front of a huge crowd.  It was a dream come true for the both of us.  

Since then, purely by word of mouth, I was referred to more fighters, and putting on more fights. I now have a growing stable of athletes around the world, all of whom I am proud and honored to represent. I pride myself on my ability to relate with people at a deeply personal level. It allows me to create bonds regardless of cultural and personal background that transcends a typical relationship between an athlete and manager. That bond is my most treasured currency.

I love helping my athletes grow and achieve their goals, no matter where they are in their career, or where they are from. From the local shows to the regionals, from regionals to the big shows, with aspirations achieved and gold wrapped around their waists. I began my journey as a kid in awe of the pageantry of an MMA event in 2007. Now, in 2020 - literally tonight, one of my fighters will fly out to Bahrain to compete in a tournament for a major promotional title.

And as Wolf Sports Management continues to grow, I look forward to the day when I can truly say that the rest is history - for myself, yes, but especially my athletes.