MMA Power 40 (2013 Edition)

[Cammo101]

I've tried to do this pretty much once a year. This is a list of the most powerful people in Mixed Martial Arts. These lists usually lead to some pretty interesting conversations...


1. Dana White (UFC President)
2. Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta (Zuffa Chairman/CEO)
3. Joe Silva (UFC Matchmaker/VP Talent Relations)
4. Georges St. Pierre (UFC Welterweight Champion)
5. Eric Shanks (Fox Sports Co-President/COO)
6. Keith Kizer (Executive Director of Nevada State Athletic Commission)
7. Jon Jones (UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
8. Marc Ratner (UFC VP Regulatory Affairs)
9. Anderson Silva (UFC Middleweight)
10. Bjorn Rebney (CEO of Bellator)
11. Joe Rogan (UFC Play by Play Announcer)
12. Ronda Rousey (UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion)
13. Chael Sonnen (UFC Middleweight/UFC TV Personality)
14. Greg Jackson (Trainer/President of Greg Jackson’s MMA)
15. Cain Velasquez (UFC Heavyweight Champion)
16. Craig Piligian (Executive Producer of The Ultimate Fighter)
17. Jose Aldo (UFC Featherweight Champion)
18. Ed Soares (MMA Manager/Co-Founder of Black House)
19. Tim Danaher (Bellator President)
20. Vitor Belfort (UFC Middleweight)
21. Michael Bisping (UFC Middleweight)
22. Chris Weidman (UFC Middleweight Champion)
23. Sam Caplan (Bellator Matchmaker/VP Talent Relations)
24. Junior dos Santos (UFC Heavyweight)
25. Kenny Florian (Former UFC Fighter/UFC TV Personality)
26. Sean Shelby (UFC VP of Fighter Relations/Matchmaker)
27. Kevin Kay (President of Spike TV)
28. Victor Cui (One FC CEO/Owner)
29. Randy Couture (Former UFC Fighter/MMA Personality/Actor)
30. Benson Henderson (UFC Lightweight Champion)
31. Burt Watson (UFC Site Coordinator)
32. Reed Harris (VP of Community Relations)
33. Rashad Evans (UFC Light Heavyweight)
34. Urijah Faber (UFC Bantamweight)
35. Demetrious Johnson (UFC Flyweight Champion)
36. Dan Henderson (UFC Light Heavyweight)
37. Dominick Cruz (UFC Bantamweight Champion)
38. Shannon Knapp (Invicta FC Founder/President)
39. Frankie Edgar (UFC Featherweight)
40. Chan Sung Jung (UFC Featherweight)

http://www.nbadraftguru.blogspot.com

[REDDzone]

I'd put whoever heads up viacom mma or spike mma or whoever makes the bellator calls now over Rebney. It is pretty clear he has been usurped.

[CPT]

Hard to compare fighters with behind the scenes people, but you seem to have done a pretty good job.

At certain points though, it seems like you are just showing off that you know who these people are and what positions they hold.

I mean, are Burt Watson and Reed Harris really that powerful?

If Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Dan Henderson, or Frankie Edgar jumped to Bellator, wouldn't that be a lot more impactful than the guy who runs around telling people it's time to go?

[Cammo101]

Hard to compare fighters with behind the scenes people, but you seem to have done a pretty good job.

At certain points though, it seems like you are just showing off that you know who these people are and what positions they hold.

I mean, are Burt Watson and Reed Harris really that powerful?

If Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Dan Henderson, or Frankie Edgar jumped to Bellator, wouldn't that be a lot more impactful than the guy who runs around telling people it's time to go?

Trust me, I didn't know who a lot of these people were and what positions they held until I starting making this list.

Burt Watson is a lot more than the guy who runs around yelling it's time. He is the event coordinator for every event the UFC puts on. That is an incredibly important position.

I'm not sure any one of those guys you listed jumping to Bellator would be super impactful, in and of itself. Hell, we saw Hendo do just that to Strikeforce and it barely caused a ripple.

[REDDzone]

I remember Ariel interviewing a first time ufc guy awhile back and the fighter (can't recall who) was saying how Burt Watson literally runs everything at the event, like...everything. And Ariel agreed and they were saying yea that dude does everything behind the scenes.

[CPT]

I knew that as I was typing it, but felt I'd throw Hendo's name in the mix anyway. It didn't shift the balance of power to Strikeforce by any means, but some of his fights brought them a lot of eyeballs, they just failed to capitalize.

Watson's position is important, but is he really powerful? Hypothetically, if he (31) and Rashad Evans (33) had a huge blow up, and go to Dana White with a "him or me" ultimatum, who wins out? The way I see it, Burt would be looking for a new job, and it wouldn't even be that hard of a decision.

I guess I would just like to know more about the thought process behind ranking these guys where they are. Even just a couple sentences.

[Cammo101]

I knew that as I was typing it, but felt I'd throw Hendo's name in the mix anyway. It didn't shift the balance of power to Strikeforce by any means, but some of his fights brought them a lot of eyeballs, they just failed to capitalize.

Watson's position is important, but is he really powerful? Hypothetically, if he (31) and Rashad Evans (33) had a huge blow up, and go to Dana White with a "him or me" ultimatum, who wins out? The way I see it, Burt would be looking for a new job, and it wouldn't even be that hard of a decision.

I guess I would just like to know more about the thought process behind ranking these guys where they are. Even just a couple sentences.

I think if Dana had to pick between Burt and Rashad, he would pick Burt without batting an eye. He is the much harder guy to replace for the UFC.

There really is not set formula for how the list was made. It is basically just a breakdown of who I believe to be the most important/powerful people in MMA. I think when it comes to power, the top fighters who are PPV draws have a ton of it, and most of the rest are interchangeable. This is why we see the pay structure we do that is so top heavy.

[REDDzone]

I agree Dana would pick Burt easily. Dana already doesn't like Rashad, and Rashad is a fight removed from losing to Lil Nog. Not to mention I think Dana would be the last person in the entire world who would tolerate an ultimatum.

That said, cpt's point about managing the event = power is a good question. I'm not sure important necessarily means power. You tell us, cammo. How are you defining power?

[CPT]

Event coordinator vs credible main eventer. I'm not so sure the latter is more easily replaced than the former.

Maybe I chose the wrong example. Reed Harris, same situation, and choose any of the fighters ranked below him.

[spykelee]

I remember Ariel interviewing a first time ufc guy awhile back and the fighter (can't recall who) was saying how Burt Watson literally runs everything at the event, like...everything. And Ariel agreed and they were saying yea that dude does everything behind the scenes.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbgXL6uwrYM[/youtube]

[UN-Owen]

What is the appeal of Kenny Florian?

He was a decent fighter, but somebody needs to get him away from the mic

[Cammo101]

Event coordinator vs credible main eventer. I'm not so sure the latter is more easily replaced than the former.

Maybe I chose the wrong example. Reed Harris, same situation, and choose any of the fighters ranked below him.

Reed Harris is more debatable, as it is a lot less clear what his day to day functions are. But, he is an extremely high up member of the UFC. That, in theory, is a lot less replaceable than a good fighter. Reed Harris was a tough case though, and you could certainly make an argument for him not appearing on the list.

[Cammo101]

What is the appeal of Kenny Florian?

He was a decent fighter, but somebody needs to get him away from the mic

I like KenFlo a lot on UFC Tonight. I think he is an okay play by play guy, but a real solid TV personality.

[REDDzone]

I liked Florian as a fighter, ironically, since now every time I hear him talk or read one of his tweets I want to club him with a blunt object.

[Jasen777]

If they wanted to, couldn't the Fertittas force White out? Wouldn't that make them number 1? Or is it still White because he's actually the one doing stuff?

[REDDzone]

I definitely think there is a huge argument to be made for Lorenzo being number one here.

[cowboyronnie]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbgXL6uwrYM[/youtube]

are they serious? are they patronizing him cos of the down's syndrome?