WSOF Parts Ways With Ali Abdelaziz Over Conflict Of Interest Concerns

WSOF has parted ways with longtime exec Ali Abdelaziz. WSOF CEO Carlos Silva spoke with MMAjunkie about the move, which came after the NSAC became concerned about Abdelaziz potentially working as a matchmaker while serving as a manager as well. WSOF has president Ray Sefo as their official matchmaker, but the decision was made in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest perceptions. Silva said the promotion would still work with Abdelaziz in his managerial capacity. Check out highlights below:

On the decision to part ways: “We all sat down as a team with (WSOF President Ray Sefo) and Ali, and we made a decision together that it was appropriate to part ways amicably. Ali’s got a business to run. He’s going to go back into that business 100 percent of the time and grow that business. We wish him well. We think he’s doing great with that business. But that being said, you can’t do both (work with the promotion and manage fighters). So we just decided to shake hands and call it a day, and Ray is going to continue to do what he’s always done.”

On making the move to avoid any potential conflicts of interest: “We just wanted to make sure there were no questions that could be asked. We want him to do well and stop there being any tweets and noise that float around because we’re doing the right thing to run WSOF.”

Abdelaziz on leaving the promotion: “The WSOF was the best thing that happened to me. I learned a lot from them, and they learned a lot from me. It’s business as usual. I just have to do something different.”