MMA Management: An Agent’s Perspective
Mar 16, 2012 Comments
Editor's note: Robert Roveta, who represents a number of
high-profile mixed martial artists, examines the current climate
involving agents and managers in the sport.
There has been a great deal of talk over the last few months about the role of agents or managers in mixed martial arts and whether or not they are needed. While the argument could be made that agents and managers are not necessities -- some believe fighters can do it all themselves -- there are a number of positive things a quality agent or manager brings to the table that cannot be overlooked.
If you want to be the best in any walk of life, you need a team of
certified professionals and specialists working with you to help
you reach that goal; they handle any number of tasks so that you
can focus on what is most important. For mixed martial artists,
that is training for the next fight, not trying to find sponsors,
booking travel arrangements and completing all the paperwork that
accompanies each bout. Should a fighter really be worrying about
his banner or whether or not a sponsor patch is located in the
right place?
From medical contacts across the country and detailed background information on various sponsors to a list of promoters, promotions and everyone who works in the various departments at Zuffa LLC, good agents have all of these people in their Rolodexes and are dedicated to keeping their files updated.
Additionally, a good agent or manager has strong relationships throughout the MMA industry. Finding the right people with which to work -- coaches, sparring partners, fight camps -- and being able to reliably consult with other agents and managers on any number of issues are all vital elements that your manager should possess. If your manager does not get along with others in the industry, it does not mean he or she is better than the rest; it usually means there is a problem.
The biggest issue in the MMA management field right now is that there is no barrier to entry. By comparison, to represent a player in the National Football League, a prospective agent must have:
• Received an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and a post-graduate degree (Masters or Law) from an accredited college or university;
• Filed a verified application for certification as a Contract Advisor with the NFL Players Association within the specified dates;
• Paid the non-refundable $2,500 application fee;
• Attended a two-day seminar;
• Successfully completed a 60-question multiple-choice exam that covers the Collective Bargaining Agreement, salary cap, player benefits and other issues relevant to player representation.
Certified agents also pay the NFLPA an annual fee based on the number of active clients they represent.
There is currently no certification process and zero codified professional standards laid out to which agents and managers must adhere, and one does not have to make any time commitment or personal investment into becoming an agent or manager within this industry. To be an agent or manager in the mixed martial arts industry, all you currently have to do is tell people that you are an agent or manager in the mixed martial arts industry. After that, you are free to start recruiting clients.
We -- fighters and managers -- must take it upon ourselves to rectify the situation and improve the industry. Managers need to band together to establish certifications, regulations and minimum requirements to be an agent or manager within the sport mixed martial arts. Fighters need to take the time to do their due diligence.
If you were going to buy a house, you would surely look into the background of your real estate agent. How many houses have he or she sold in the past? What is his or her reputation is like within the industry? What was he or she doing previously? Why did he or she get into real estate in the first place? The same steps should be taken in finding the right agent.
Find out how long managers have worked in mixed martial arts and what brought them to the sport and their roles in the first place. What fighters have they represented in the past? What is their reputation among the other fighters, the promotions and their contemporaries? How much turnover have they had in their client roster over the last six months and why? What have they done for the fighters with which they have worked in the past?
These are all basic questions that need to be addressed up front and can potentially help steer fighters away from making a managerial decision they come to regret.
Furthermore, is there a good fit personality-wise between you and your prospective agent or manager? Does he or she know your expectations and what you hope to achieve in your career? Will you enjoy working with him or her to help reach those goals?
To buy a good house, you need a good real estate agent. To get your taxes done correctly, you need a good accountant. To handle your legal affairs, you need a good attorney. To handle your day-to-day minutia, you need a good assistant. To be the best in your field, you need a team of skilled and trained professionals around you -- period. Fighters are no different.
Robert Roveta is head of Denaro Sports Marketing in Henderson, Nev. His firm represents a number of high-profile mixed martial artists, including UFC featherweight contender Mark Hominick, former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 finalist Phillipe Nover.
There has been a great deal of talk over the last few months about the role of agents or managers in mixed martial arts and whether or not they are needed. While the argument could be made that agents and managers are not necessities -- some believe fighters can do it all themselves -- there are a number of positive things a quality agent or manager brings to the table that cannot be overlooked.
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From medical contacts across the country and detailed background information on various sponsors to a list of promoters, promotions and everyone who works in the various departments at Zuffa LLC, good agents have all of these people in their Rolodexes and are dedicated to keeping their files updated.
Just as each fighter needs a good team of people around them,
quality managers or agents should be surrounded by specialists who
handle various elements that are integral to helping build and
maintain their clients’ careers, including graphic and web
designers, public relations representatives, accountants, attorneys
and others.
Additionally, a good agent or manager has strong relationships throughout the MMA industry. Finding the right people with which to work -- coaches, sparring partners, fight camps -- and being able to reliably consult with other agents and managers on any number of issues are all vital elements that your manager should possess. If your manager does not get along with others in the industry, it does not mean he or she is better than the rest; it usually means there is a problem.
The biggest issue in the MMA management field right now is that there is no barrier to entry. By comparison, to represent a player in the National Football League, a prospective agent must have:
• Received an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and a post-graduate degree (Masters or Law) from an accredited college or university;
• Filed a verified application for certification as a Contract Advisor with the NFL Players Association within the specified dates;
• Paid the non-refundable $2,500 application fee;
• Attended a two-day seminar;
• Successfully completed a 60-question multiple-choice exam that covers the Collective Bargaining Agreement, salary cap, player benefits and other issues relevant to player representation.
Certified agents also pay the NFLPA an annual fee based on the number of active clients they represent.
There is currently no certification process and zero codified professional standards laid out to which agents and managers must adhere, and one does not have to make any time commitment or personal investment into becoming an agent or manager within this industry. To be an agent or manager in the mixed martial arts industry, all you currently have to do is tell people that you are an agent or manager in the mixed martial arts industry. After that, you are free to start recruiting clients.
We -- fighters and managers -- must take it upon ourselves to rectify the situation and improve the industry. Managers need to band together to establish certifications, regulations and minimum requirements to be an agent or manager within the sport mixed martial arts. Fighters need to take the time to do their due diligence.
If you were going to buy a house, you would surely look into the background of your real estate agent. How many houses have he or she sold in the past? What is his or her reputation is like within the industry? What was he or she doing previously? Why did he or she get into real estate in the first place? The same steps should be taken in finding the right agent.
Find out how long managers have worked in mixed martial arts and what brought them to the sport and their roles in the first place. What fighters have they represented in the past? What is their reputation among the other fighters, the promotions and their contemporaries? How much turnover have they had in their client roster over the last six months and why? What have they done for the fighters with which they have worked in the past?
These are all basic questions that need to be addressed up front and can potentially help steer fighters away from making a managerial decision they come to regret.
Furthermore, is there a good fit personality-wise between you and your prospective agent or manager? Does he or she know your expectations and what you hope to achieve in your career? Will you enjoy working with him or her to help reach those goals?
To buy a good house, you need a good real estate agent. To get your taxes done correctly, you need a good accountant. To handle your legal affairs, you need a good attorney. To handle your day-to-day minutia, you need a good assistant. To be the best in your field, you need a team of skilled and trained professionals around you -- period. Fighters are no different.
Robert Roveta is head of Denaro Sports Marketing in Henderson, Nev. His firm represents a number of high-profile mixed martial artists, including UFC featherweight contender Mark Hominick, former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 finalist Phillipe Nover.
