Anyone who expected the UFC’s new owners not to shake things up is eating their words now.
Since WME-IMG purchased the company in the largest franchise sale in sports history, there have been a lot of lay-offs.
In October, the Toronto offices were eviscerated with 80% of the department getting let go including Tom Wright, UFC Executive Vice President and General Manager for Operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Other top executives to depart the promotion under the new regime include former chief global branding officer and head of international business development Garry Cook, former chief content officer Marshall Zelaznik, and Ken Berger and Jaime Pollack, who ran the Asian and Latin American operations respectively.
The downsizing continues as we head towards Christmas with MMA Fighting reporting that there were a further 10-15 employees let go from the promotion this week, including Hall of Famers Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes.
Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell was considered to be the face of the company in his prime and is credited with introducing a generation of fans to the sport. ‘The Iceman’ hung up his gloves for good in 2010 after suffering three successive knockout losses and he was hired as UFC executive vice president of business development.
Former welterweight champion Matt Hughes is undoubtedly one of the greatest 170 lb-ers in the history of the sport. He held that coveted golden strap twice, racked up seven successful defences and his record boasts impressive scalps such as Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn and Royce Gracie. He retired from the sport in 2013 after suffering two-straight knockout losses and was subsequently named vice president of athlete development and government relations.
