Calling All Pro-Am Fight Promotions - We need a Unified Title

If you are a Pro/Am Fight Promoter or a fan interested in the development of Pro/Am MMA, read this concept put forth by Jason Appleton to unify the titles of Pro/Am MMA in the United States.

We all hear the horror stories of the shady promoters day in and day out. This guy got screwed out of this, or this promoter lied about that. There will always be controversey and political banter between promotions trying to develop in the same market as another. However, in most marketed through out the United States, there is likely one solid promotion actively promoting high quality events with integrity and foresight while developing the careers of fighters. Having been a Pro/Am fight promoter for 3 years now while establishing a solid reputation for quality of events, exciting matchups and the overall progress for my promotion, the MMA Big Show, I've seen a great many things transpire, both good and bad. I've learned a lot from my experience in both marketing, television, production and more. Like the MMA Big Show, I know there are other promotions out there such as the XFC owned and operate by John Prisco out of Florida and Gladitator Challenge etc that I've been hearing about lately that are true promotions. They aren't just out to make a quick buck at the expense of their fighters. They have risen above the rest and continue to do great things for their promotions and their fighters.

I often wonder, who in California knows and respects the MMA Big Show compared to my local market? How many fans does the MMA Big Show have in Florida? How many people in Cincinnati know of the XFC in Florida and so on? When someone in Cincinnati hears, the XFC Welterweight Champion, how many people actually care? What does holding a title for any one of our promotions matter in the grand scheme of things?

When you think of Pro/Am you think of AAA baseball. You think of an event put on to promote up and coming talent. However, as this may be true to an extent, many of us book guys from promotions such as the UFC, EliteXC etc to fight our up and comers and often, our up and comers win. Which is why perception is everything. When a fan thinks of the UFC Title, they KNOW it's the best of the best that wear one around their waist.

Overall, I'd like to begin working with other like minded promoters in the country to unify the titles of our individual title holders in a ladder format tournament...

My concept? Here it is:

I plan to send and share this article to as many places as possible while also sending it directly to all of the 150+ promoters I have in my list.

Let's say we find 10 of the top Pro/Am promotions in the country to work together. I will personally establish a website where the Professional Title holders of each of these promotions is constantly tracked in a ladder format by weight class as well as the vacant Unified Title Spots. Each promotion will be well represented on this site.

I personally hold 8 events a year at the Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in Indiana. XFC may hold 12 or more in various states and in the UK. Gladiator may hold 12 or so etc.

Once we have the list of promotions working within the unified title circuit and their associated champions, each promotion would have at least 1 Unifying bout on their cards. Each of these fights must be promoted on the sites of each promotion in a special section of each promoters site devoted to the unification of these belts.

As we progress through the ladder of champions, we should end up with a new unified title holder at the end of every year.

What does this accomplish?

National cross promotion of not only the top promotions in the country but also the top fighters of each area, through out the country.

It will help develop further interest in what the public will see as true contenders and true champions. Champion vs. Champion is always a great means of generating interest in an event.

A unified title will mean something both to the promotion with a Unified Champion and to the fighter holding it. Certainly the unified champions will be much more sought after by promotions such as Strikeforce and the UFC than a local champion. If one of these larger organizations were to sign a unified title holder that your promotion brought up, the notoriety for your promotion will increase in many ways.

What about pay? What if you pay more than me or less than me?

Fighter pay is always dependent on who they are and many other variables. For the sake of access and ease of progress, my suggestion is for the promoters working together in this circuit agree on Unified Title Contention Pay. In other words, as a means of excelling a fighters career and due to the level of career exposure and potential for further growth as a fighter, we as promoters agree on a flat rate for Unification bouts and that sum is displayed as a stipulation in our professional fighter contracts and agreed to by a fighter prior to them fighting for a local/regional title. This way, every unification bout we as promoters hold costs the same and the fighters understand from the beginning what they may need to do if they win a title with one of the promotions and the pay associated with furthering their notoriety as a Unified Champion. In many cases, making a little less on a bout knowing it will catapult them on a national level and making them much nicer prospects to the larger organizations where they will be making much more money per bout is worth it for everyone.

How do I get involved in this circuit?

The promotions included in this unification circuit have to have solid reputations in the MMA industry and be unanimously voted in by the promotions already within the circuit. We as promoters will be working together very often to ensure the progress of the circuit and there is no room for dram, politics, lying, cheating or any other shady tactics. This isn't about the promotions as much as it is about the fighters. Build the fighters and the fans will come.

What do you as a promoter bring to the table? Are your events televised? How long have you been a promoter? What contacts do you have to help further the brand that is the Unified Title and the fighters holding them? What is the general consesus on the quality of your events? These are all questions that will be asked and investigated to ensure the quality and integrity of the promotions involved. This is NOT a means for a new promotion to jump in head first and get some instant recognition.

What about the Amateurs?

There is a possibility that once the professional unification process has been established that we can work on developing a similar process for Amateurs but not initially and only if the promotions involved feel it's desirable enough.

What happens when a Unified Title Holder gets signed to an exclusive with a national promotion?

Well, depending on who they sign with will dictate what happens. Some promotions allow fighters to continue fighting for their home base promotions. Some dont. The fighters pulled out of Unification status will simply be replaced the winner of the Unification process the following season.

So your idea is great but how can I trust you to run this properly?

As a promoter, what do you have to lose? I've been in this business 3 years and you won't find anyone able to say with a straight face that I'm dishonest or lack integrity. You wont find anyone that I've screwed over and every fighter who has fought at my events is always very eager to come back. I'm one of the only Pro/Am promotions in national syndicated television as well as regional broadcast television not to mention monthly On Demand PPV starting in January. I have fighters I manage who are nearing deals with national promotions and like in the music business I was in before MMA, I am known to make things big things happen. I'm a no BS kind of guy who would rather do the work and stay busy than cut corners and cheat people. Plain and simple. On top of that, I'm not trying to become the President of this group, merely the organizer.

If you are interested in learning more about how to get your promotion involved in the Unification Of Titles Ladder, email me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it