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Ultimate Fighting

MMA Is Becoming Part Of The Mix

If there are sports agents representing bowlers (cough, Dynasty, cough), then you better believe that there are agents representing ultimate fighters. The competition among UFC agents is definitely less than that of NFL agents, but as the sport continues to grow, the field will get larger and the barrier to entry will increase. Basically, now may be the time to get involved in that area of the industry, if that is what you are interested. As UFC continues to rise in appeal, other types of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) have gained relevance in a very short time span. Now agents can represent different fighting styles and make money in all areas.

Let’s first look at the latest development for the UFC. First Spike TV profited nicely from huge UFC ratings. The bigger networks were not going to sit by idly. Endeavor Talent Agency has aided the UFC expansion to current contract negotiations with HBO and ESPN [Violent sport making belated debut on film]. Spike TV will not lose their rights to televise many UFC bouts, however. Anyway, the UFC is probably worth more than $1 billion, so it is definitely something to keep your eyes on [Time Magazine Says UFC Worth Over Billion Dollars].

And on the other side of the same river lies newer and different forms of MMA. EliteXC is one of these new forms.  EliteXC is to the UFC as Showtime is to HBO. So it only makes sense that Showtime will be televising the first episode of a new EliteXC series on Friday, July 27 at 11 p.m [Showtime to Debut New Mixed Martial Arts Series – ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series]. The show will regularly air on Saturday nights and will give a new form of MMA much publicity as it becomes a more nationally recognized sport.

ESPN helped poker become huge. It also helps bowling remain a prominent sport among Americans. Can it also push the UFC to the next level with the help of HBO. Will Showtime aid MMA as well? Will sports agents capitalize on the future of professional fighting?

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

6 replies on “MMA Is Becoming Part Of The Mix”

[…] I once made an analogy: EliteXC is to the UFC as Showtime is to HBO.  That analogy is no longer the case.  While many view Showtime as a slightly inferior competitor of HBO, EliteXC is no longer even a blip on the radar for UFC.  Back when IMG brokered the deal between EliteXC and CBS, which mandated that ProElite, Inc., the title company to EliteXC, produce four primetime live two-hour MMA events on CBS for multiple years, it looked like EliteXC might just be a viable alternative to UFC.  But Paul Schackman predicted on June 2, 2008 that promotion of Kimbo Slice being a MMA superstar is going to turn out being a disaster.  Paul is often dead-on on his predictions and he did not fail us on this one.  Multiple reports have confirmed that ProElite and its EliteXC program are done for good and that its remaining cards are cancelled.  CBS is thrilled with its investment.. […]

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