In addition to former CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and matchmaker Joe Silva, UFC’s top public relations executive, Dave Sholler, is also leaving the UFC by the end of 2016.
Sholler, who held the official job title of UFC Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Athlete Marketing and Development, will be parting ways with the UFC after joining Zuffa as an executive for the now defunct World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) in 2009.
Sholler moved on to work directly for the UFC when the owners of the promotion bought out WEC in 2010. He would go on to grow within the organization and become one of the more high-profile publicly acknowledged executives, even hosting a number of press conferences in place of Dana White. Most famously, Sholler was the man in the middle of Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier when the two had their infamous media day brawl in Las Vegas, which produced one of the more classic MMA photos. The picture (see above), caught an unexpected Sholler between two of the most dangerous fighters in the world, resulting in an absolute look of terror on the face of the UFC P.R. man.
The announcement regarding Sholler’s departure from the world’s leading MMA promotion, which was purchased by WME | IMG for a reported $4.2 billion earlier this year, was made by Dana White on FOX Sports 1 earlier this week. Sholler would follow soon after White’s TV appearance with a small statement released on social media thanking the company for the “ride of a lifetime” before revealing that he will be moving on to accept a position with the Philadelphia 76ers, which is the NBA franchise near his hometown in Pennsylvania.
The statement released by Sholler on his official Twitter page this past Wednesday in three separate tweets reads as follows:
“As Dana [White] just announced on [FOX Sports 1], I’m heading home. I’ve accepted a job [with] my hometown team, the [Philadelphia 76ers]. This has been the ride of a lifetime. It’s time to go home, to the organization I grew up rooting for. Will miss fight game very, very much, but excited for the new challenge. Thank you ALL for the kind words. Amazing. Truly. Thank you. I’m closing this chapter with one final event: UFC 205].”
As Dana just announced on @FS1, I'm heading home. I've accepted a job w/ my hometown team, the @Sixers. This has been the ride of a lifetime
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016
It's time to go home, to the organization I grew up rooting for. Will miss fight game very, very much, but excited for the new challenge.
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016
Thank you ALL for the kind words. Amazing. Truly. Thank you. I'm closing this chapter with one final event: #UFC205 ?
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016
