mma / News
UPDATED: Matchmaker Joe Silva Reportedly Exiting The UFC
UPDATE: Mmajunkie.com reports that Joe Silva has informed the company that he will leave his job with the organization, and it maybe as soon as the end of 2016. The site also reports that the financial gain from the sale of the UFC is the cause for his departure; there are said to be no issues with the new owners. Sean Shelby, who does the matchmaking for the lower weight classes (featherweight and below), will likely take over as the main matchmaker when Silva leaves.
ORIGINAL: There has been no official announcement from he or the UFC, but the word going around on Twitter from the usual MMA insiders says that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva is leaving the promotion. Silva has been praised for years for his work with the company, and many credit him as an unsung hero in the rise of the company. Here is the chatter below, and as always, more on the story as it developsā¦
BREAKING: The UFC has parted ways with long time matchmaker Joe Silva (per @TalkMMA) #UFC
— The MMA Kings (@mma_kings) August 31, 2016
I used to talk to Joe Silva weekly. Every week he was thinking about quitting UFC. Finally his wish coming true. End of an era.
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) August 31, 2016
UFC's current matchmaking an abandonment of Joe Silva's principles. He believed in results based booking. I wonder if that led to his exit?
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) August 31, 2016
As multiple MMA reporters have already tweeted, matchmaker Joe Silva is exiting the UFC
— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) August 31, 2016
If Joe Silva is leaving UFC…wow. The sea change with the new owners is happening quicker than I thought.
— Josh Nason (@JoshNason) August 31, 2016
No. His choice 100% https://t.co/No6aspesAt
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) August 31, 2016
Departure to come by the end of the year, I'm told. https://t.co/oMZ1VUP4je
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) August 31, 2016