25 Pro Fighters, Managers, and Coaches Reveal Their Best Tips to Land a Sponsorship by Solmadrid Vazquez Follow me on Twitter here. Sponsorships can make or break you. The problem is, the process of landing a sponsorship is counter-intuitive. Being a great fighter is NOT enough. I’m sure you’ve seen fighters who land sponsors left and right. What’s their secret? How come they can get 27 sponsors in one day and you can’t even get one freakin’ rep to look at you? What THE hell is going on?! To get to this bottom of this conundrum, I contacted some of the best fighters, managers, and trainers in the game and asked them a simple question: “What is your #1 tip to land a sponsorship?” Each tip has a custom tweet link after it so feel free to share your favorite tips with your followers. Let’s Get Ready To Ruuuummmmbllllllleee!!! Frank Shamrock Frank Shamrock is a retired MMA Fighter. He was the first UFC Middleweight Champion and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion. He was also the first WEC Light Heavyweight Champion, and the first Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. He was a brand spokesman for Strikeforce and is a Sports Commentator for Showtime. Frank can be found at his site, on Facebook, and on Twitter. My number one tip to landing a sponsorship is presenting yourself properly. Present a long-term consistent growth plan that somebody, or a sponsor, could attach themselves to, so you can show how you will grow together. “Present a long-term consistent growth plan.” Tweet this. Firas Zahabi Firas Zahabi is the head coach of Tristar Gym. Tristar is home to many internationally recognized fighters, such as Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, David “Crow” Loiseau, Kenny Florian, Miguel Torres, Ivan Menjivar, Yves Jabouin, John Makdessi, and Denis Kang. Firas can be found at the Tristar website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. I don’t think there is any real secret and I always recommend fighters to get managers who can use their network to make them money. Training is tough enough, so there’s no time for fighters to spend all day on the phone. With that said, use a manager you trust, or build trust together. “I always recommend fighters to get managers who can use their network to make them money.” Tweet this. Erik Paulson Erik Paulson is a retired light heavyweight MMA fighter. He was the first American to win the World Light- Heavy Weight Shooto Title in Japan. Currently, he runs the Combat Submission Wrestling Training Center where he trains MMA fighters such as Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Renato Sobral, Cub Swanson, and James Wilks. You can find Erik at his site and on Facebook. To be honest, getting a manager who is hooked up with companies and has TV time is the best way bar none…that’s all I know. Sponsors don’t like to talk to coaches too much from my experience. “Getting a manager who is hooked up with companies and has TV time is the best way bar none.” Tweet this. Eric “American Soldier” Prindle Eric “American Soldier” Prindle is a MMA Fighter. He competes in the heavyweight division of Bellator MMA. Eric was Bellator’s season five heavyweight tournament winner. You can find Eric at his site, on Facebook, and on Twitter. The #1 way I get sponsors is by meeting an owner of a company that likes MMA. I tell the owner a little about my background in the army and why I started doing MMA. When I meet with the company I go in with a plan. I dress appropriately and come prepared with an intricate and detailed sponsor package. I show them what I can do for them and what they will get for whatever level of sponsorship they are interested in. Being polite and articulating yourself well goes a long way! Usually when you get sponsors they need to do it for more than just having their logo on your shorts or banner. They have to be proud to see your shorts and banner with logo on them, instead of the only reason being advertisement. “The #1 way I get sponsors is by meeting an owner of a company that likes MMA.” Tweet this. Manolo “El Huracan” Hernandez Manolo “El Huracan” Hernandez is the head of pro MMA instruction at the San Diego Combat Academy. He is the head trainer of Team Hurricane Awesome, which includes UFC standout Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche. Manolo can be found on Facebook and Twitter. It’s important to create a social media fan base. Also, write up a nice letter where you can explain your situation and give it to potential sponsors. Don’t expect much money in sponsorship’s. Try to get those companies regardless though, to create a sense that you are a hot commodity. It’s important to ask for crafts and services as well as money. For instance, a friend of mine had a great sponsorship from a local grocery store. It cut out the middleman since he was just looking for money to eat. “It’s important to create a social media fan base.” Tweet this. Greg Nelson Greg Nelson is a former Muay Thai and MMA fighter, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor. He won a gold medal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the 1999 Pan-Ams, a silver medal in the 2000 Pan-Ams, and three golds in 2001 Grappling Games in LA. Greg owns, and is the head instructor of, the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy. As a coach, he and the Academy Team have produced three UFC Champions: Dave Menne, Sean Sherk, and Brock Lesnar. The Minnesota Martial Arts Academy can be found at its website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. Greg can be found on Facebook. I can tell you that products, businesses, and individuals are looking for positive exposure for their product. A fighter/competitor has to be willing to promote a company’s product in way that will get people interested enough to either inquire or buy their product. The fighter needs to have not only the look, but also exhibit the qualities that the product is attempting to accomplish. It is important the fighter portrays the image associated with the product. For example, a fitness product wants a good looking, very fit looking individual that is positive and well liked. Fighters assume that if they are winning on the big stage that is good enough. However, it is about image and willingness to portray that image. Obviously, gi companies use the most accomplished and the busiest competitors that are giving the maximum amount of exposure. In addition, fighter/competitors have to be willing to “sell” the product, talk about it, use it…or at least say how it has helped develop their skill, endurance, lose weight, build strength…whatever the product does. A company sponsoring a fighter wants to know what they are going to do, or what are they willing to do. Now it is fairly easy to get product, free training gear, supplements, and clothing, but, to get money there has to be major exposure on a larger scale. If a fight is going to be televised, on Pay-Per-View on a major stream, they have to know that their logo will have exposure on fights shorts, walk out shirt, banner…it is seen. Before and after the fight they want to hear the fighter talk about their product, to “sell” it. Sean Sherk used a modified gas mask a few times and it was seen on the UFC All Access, and then it exploded. Prototypes were made, Sean wore it while training on an Airdyne bike and similar drills, took pictures and put them on Facebook, twitter, and all other social media. They immediately struck a relationship with him. Sean eventually became a part owner and went to fitness expos, and continued with tons of social media. You have to work for your pay, companies just don’t give away money, you have to earn it by showing you are using their product and making sure everyone knows it is working. It is a good idea to research products and companies and go for ones that you know you can expose the best, which match your personality, your look, and your style of fighting. “A fighter/competitor has to be willing to promote a company’s product.” Tweet this. Mark “The Hammer”Coleman Mark “The Hammer”Coleman is a retired heavyweight and light heavyweight MMA fighter. He was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first UFC Heavyweight Champion, the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion, and is a UFC Hall of Fame inductee. Mark can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Kick some ass and show who you are. Smile once in a while. “Smile once in a while.” Tweet this. Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres is a MMA Fighter. She is the #7 ranked female strawweight in the world according to the Unified Women’s MMA Rankings. She will star in The Ultimate Fighter: Season 20. Tecia can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Be yourself and work hard. Most sponsors want someone who is true and genuine. It’s more than just winning. Create a relationship and make sure to voice your appreciation. Also, sometimes it’s okay to ask for something. The worst you can get is a “no”, or “we will work on it.” “It’s more than just winning.