UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard gave rare insight into the promotion’s talent search process.
Maynard, who started as an MMA promoter in 2006, has been in the fight world for a long time, with a unique eye for talent. After running Legacy Fighting Championship as owner and president, he was hired by the UFC as vice president of talent relations in 2016, alongside senior vice president of talent relations Sean Shelby. The pair make up the UFC’s matchmaking team, creating fights that take place week after week.
“There are so many aspects that Sean and I really focus on,” Maynard began in a video posted on TKO Group’s social media. “Obviously, you have to look at the record. You have to look, are they finishing fights? Frankly, if they don’t finish fights at the regional level, they’re not going to get into the biggest league in the world and finish people, and that’s important.”
Shelby is the matchmaker from men’s bantamweight to welterweight, while Maynard is in charge of the women’s, men’s flyweight and middleweight to heavyweight divisions.
Currently, fighters have several paths to enter the UFC. A prospect may be offered a contract to join the promotion directly, be selected after an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series, win a season of “The Ultimate Fighter” or win the Road to UFC tournament.
“Obviously, you look for talent first and you want them to be the best fighters in the world, but then every now and then you’ll have a Conor McGregor who has an unusual personality, and you have a totally new personality. animal, you have superstars. … All of those things combined, we take into account.”
