Being a manager in the sports business takes a lot of stress and effort, more notably so in combat sport. A small part of Muhammad Ali’s success was also courtesy the assiduous efforts of his manager Jabir Herbert Muhammad, who managed him from 1966 until his retirement in 1981.
He was considered as one of the most powerful managers in the business, having negotiated the first multi-million dollar earnings for the legend.
Managers are powerful people. Ask anyone what the role of a manager in the UFC is and nine times out of ten it would be a succinct “to help the fighter sign the contract”. The hard truth is that the role of a manager spans way beyond just helping the MMA hopeful put pen to paper.
It is an extremely challenging job to ensure that things go according to what’s best for the fighter.
With that said, how would it be to have WWE-style managers manage UFC fighters? Would things be different if people of the calibre of Paul Heyman and co. take charge of the fighters in the Octagon? Here are five reasons why management in the UFC needs a WWE-esque facelift!
#5 To help their fighters achieve Superstardom
Unlike how it was back in the day, every successful fighter requires a manager who can act as a springboard and a mouthpiece, thereby pushing the virtues of Citius, Altius and Fortius in equal proportions.
This is something that the WWE swears by, which is why there have been managers like Paul Heyman, Paul Bearer, Brother Love, Ted DiBiase, calling the shots for some of the biggest Superstars in the business. A manager leverages the Superstar onto a higher platform, ensuring that he/she is a saleable commodity in the market!
Having a manager also saves the fighters the ordeal of selling themselves. Having a WWE-styled manager smoothen things for the UFC fighters and would help them focus solely on the fight, leaving the manager to deal with the peripherals.
A manager who cuts promos also saves the fighters the effort of rehearsing a script before the actual fight, thereby making the promo look one hundred percent legit! Imagine how iconic it would be to see someone of the calibre of Paul E. Dangerously to cut promos for some of the top-gun fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
#4 To cut the perfect deals for them and helping them grow
One of the primary roles of a manager in the UFC is to also help the fighter sign with the UFC. In order to ensure that the contract is exactly what was promised to them, a manager has to peruse it down to the last detail, to ensure that the contract isn’t dodgy, contrary to the promise made.
In addition to that, the manager oversees the contract negotiations and tries to cut better deals for the fighter to ensure his/her longevity in the business. A manager from the WWE-oeuvre would ideally be perfect if put in charge of UFC Superstars.
Most UFC fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, who aren’t proficient speakers of the English language, often find it difficult to negotiate terms and conditions which are laid out in front of them.
Often during predicaments, WWE-style managers would not only carve out the perfect deals for them, but would also go a step further in ensuring that the fighter has been provided the best ecosystem conducive to his/her growth in the sports industry as usually the sports industry is beset with people who employ deceptive ways to gain an upper hand.
#3 To book blockbuster matches
To put things into perspective, let’s take the example of someone as talented as Khabib Nurmagomedov, who isn’t getting a shot at Conor McGregor. If a top draw manager hailing from the WWE school of thought was given charge of him, he would not only get him a quick shot at what he deserves but also chalk out the further bouts he embroils in (not intending offence at his present manager).
The UFC isn’t known to be a sport which sees much longevity on a fighter’s part, owing to the toll the whole routine takes on the physical and mental health of a fighter. A fighter’s career gets used up quite quickly in an MMA promotion if he/she engages in numerous fights.
Therefore, it’s imperative for a manager to be smart enough to zero-in on which fights a fighter gets into and which fight garners more reception that ultimately translates to monetary value. No one would fit the role better than a WWE manager who is cunning enough to sort the best deals for “his client”!
#2 Help garner more sales worldwide (for the fighter as well as the brand)
The UFC isn’t known to be as popular as the World Wrestling Entertainment, primarily because the latter thrives on the “entertainment” quotient more. Nevertheless, mixed martial arts is fast catching up with the sales bandwagon and the UFC leaves no stone unturned in blowing its trumpet!
In order to garner more sales worldwide, it is imperative for the promotion to allow the fighters to run with the ball. The UFC, because of its extremely fast-paced nature and a slightly lower notch in the ‘entertainment’ department, cannot compete with the World Wrestling Entertainment in the aforesaid realm, which is why there has to be a manager who oversees the peripherals.
The manager, in addition to helping the fighter put pen to paper, also needs to ensure that the saleability of a fighter goes up in the market, thereby allowing the brand to escalate to a notch higher. A manager who is essentially a linchpin of the WWE-format would find it easier to assist fighters with selling merchandise, signing autographs and attending events all over the world.
This is why every Macho Man Randy Savage needs a Miss Elizabeth, the same way every “client” needed a Paul Heyman!
#1 Form a lethal duo with the fighter
A manager is akin to a father-figure in sports of the ferocity of mixed martial arts, which is why a manager is an integral facet of a fighter’s life in the business. A manager in addition to performing all of the aforementioned roles, acts as a partner to the fighter, thereby being one-half of the lethal duo.
From speaking in press conferences to engaging in verbal spats with fighters (and their fellow managers), a manager ensures that the mind-games stay at bay before the fighter walks out into the Octagon.
A WWE manager would fit the role perfectly, as observed in the case of Paul Bearer (R.I.P.) whose partnership was one of the reasons for The Undertaker’s early success in the WWE. Imagine someone as intimidating as Bearer holding an urn outside the Octagon. Damn!
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