Transcript

Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares

From Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 49 min · 8,328 words · 107 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares", an episode of Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby published February 11, 2026 (49 min, about 8,328 words). It mentions 56 people, works and ideas, including Legacy Fighting Alliance, UFC, Ed Sores, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Mick Maynard.

What this episode is about

The conversation with Ed Soares, founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, explores his journey in the MMA industry, the vision behind establishing LFA as a key player in developing fighters for the UFC, and his insights on elevating the sport. He shares details about his morning routine and reflects on the unique concepts that set LFA apart from traditional organizations like the UFC.

Key takeaways

  • Legacy Fighting Alliance: UFC's secret sauce, churning out 27% of current champions with an innovative grassroots approach.
  • Hoist Gracie's UFC debut: a masterclass in technique over power, proving that leverage can dethrone giants.
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu evolved in the U.S., blending tradition with modern combat to dominate the martial arts landscape.
  • Ed Sores' journey from TV producer to MMA mogul showcases the unpredictable paths in the sports industry.
  • In a sport often glorifying brute strength, BJJ's refinement illustrates that finesse often trumps raw force.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Haleo Gracie, Brazil, Legacy Fighting Alliance, UFC
  2. – 15:00: Access TV, Haleo Gracie, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Mick Maynard
  3. – 20:00: developmental organization, Legacy Fighting Alliance, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Mick Maynard
  4. – 25:00: UFC, developmental organization, Alex Pereira, Henry Cejudo
  5. – 30:00: One Championship, Luke Rockhold, Pride, Ryzen
  6. – 35:00: Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, Haleo Gracie, Forest Griffin
  7. – 40:00: gratitude, California, South Bay
  8. – 45:00: Alex Pereira
  9. – 49:13: Legacy Fighting Alliance, Ed Sores, Coffees for Closers, Ed Suarez Pro

Notable quotes from "Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares"

  • With the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, an ally of the UFC and a breeding ground for 27% of all of the current UFC champions. They are breeding the best of the…
    about Legacy Fighting Alliance · at
  • Efficiency of jiu-jitsu. the UFC was never started to become a sport. Hian created the UFC to prove to the world that Gracie jiu-jitsu is the most efficient martial art in the world. And he proved that, and there was other guys that.
    about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu · at
  • And like I said, Hian proved his point that, nowadays you cannot fight mixed martial arts without knowing jiu-jitsu. If you don't know jiu-jitsu, you're going to get beat.
    about Brazilian jiu-jitsu · at
  • Well, the way, it started was, I was a president of the RFA, which stood for Resurrection Fighting Alliance. And then there was Legacy Fighting Championship based out of Texas, which.
    about Resurrection Fighting Alliance · at
  • Announced the merger, the UFC, asked Mick to become the matchmaker for the UFC. So, Mick ended up taking the job at the UFC. We merged the companies and we were partners the…
    about Mick Maynard · at
  • In the Is King of the Cage not around anymore? Well, I we are the LFA is the number one developmental organization in the world. That's that's like that's not even me saying it. It's not it's not it's a fact. Google it.
    about developmental organization · at
  • You know Ronda Rousey was someone that really broke a lot of barriers. You know she was you know the first time the UFC was mentioned in Time magazine was because of Ronda Rousey.
    about Ronda Rousey · at
  • That I have personal relationships with that I know the kind of people that they are. And Alex Pereira right now to me is the biggest star in mixed martial arts right now.…
    about Alex Pereira · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Ed Sores — Person · Main guest (name variant / likely same person as Ed Sores) · 2 mentions · first at
    Same individual as the guest; transcript includes the Instagram handle 'Ed Suarez Pro', suggesting spelling/ASR variation.
    Breeding the best of the best of the best and their fight teams are incredible. Please welcome the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, Ed Sores. Thanks, Ed, for jumping on the show. Oh man, my pleasure. Thanks for having me.
  • Mick Maynard — Person · Referenced executive; merger counterpart · 3 mentions · first at
    Former owner of Legacy Fighting Championship; negotiated/merged with RFA to form LFA; later became UFC matchmaker.
  • Haleo Gracie — Person · Referenced expert · 8 mentions · first at
    Key figure in the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
    More of the martial art of it. I mean it obviously it is a martial art but you know the Gracies you know Haleo Hian's father was the one who really modified it because he was…
  • Alex Pereira — Person · Referenced athlete; example of character/leadership point · 5 mentions · first at
    Highlighted as a current top MMA star and as an example that fame/money magnify existing character.
  • Ronda Rousey — Person · Referenced star athlete / sport catalyst · 4 mentions · first at
    Discussed as a major figure who expanded UFC mainstream attention and broke barriers for women in UFC.
  • George Gimarange — Person · Referenced partner/mentor figure · 2 mentions · first at
    Identified as Ed’s business partner, a pioneer who helped spread jiu-jitsu in the US alongside a Gracie in the late 1970s.
    And we started broadcasting that in 2004. And then eventually it led into me my partner and I starting our management company which is called Tough Media. And then and then we…
  • Conor McGregor — Person · Referenced star athlete / sport catalyst · 2 mentions · first at
    Used as an example of a figure who brought massive attention to MMA; noted for simultaneous two-division titles.
    Chance he's going to be going up and become in fighting for a heavyweight title. You've got McGregor who actually he was the first one to simultaneously have them because he…
  • Alexander Pantosia — Person · Referenced fighter (canonical spelling) · 2 mentions · first at
    Same fighter as 'Alexander Pantosia' in the transcript; cited as LFA/RFA alum who became UFC champion and had defenses.
    Arm 26 seconds into the fight. So, they called the fight, but he was on his I believe he had four title defenses before he lost the fight, but was I don't consider it a loss…
  • Holly Holmes — Person · Referenced athlete · 2 mentions · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Let me ask you this. How do you spot a champion like a Holly Holmes? What really separates these people early on?
  • Jon Jones — Person · Referenced elite fighter · 2 mentions · first at
    Used as an example of the elite level and discussed as misunderstood despite controversies.
    People see the Alex Pereira, they see the Jon Jones of the world, but they don't really see everything behind the scenes of all the dedication and all the sacrifices you have to make to.
  • Forest Griffin — Person · Referenced fighter; historical tipping point · 2 mentions · first at
    His fight with Stephan Bonnar is cited as a pivotal moment that put UFC on the map via The Ultimate Fighter.
    The sport, I would say obviously Hoist Gracie. and then you look at the fight between Forest Griffin and Stefan Bonner. that was the first Ultimate Fighter that basically put the UFC on the map. that was a revolutionary.
  • Stefan Bonner — Person · Referenced fighter; historical tipping point · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned alongside Forrest Griffin as part of the landmark Ultimate Fighter finale that boosted UFC popularity.
    The sport, I would say obviously Hoist Gracie. and then you look at the fight between Forest Griffin and Stefan Bonner. that was the first Ultimate Fighter that basically put the UFC on the map. that was a revolutionary.
  • Henry Cejudo — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Alexander Pantoa, Alex Pereira, Valentina Schamco, Henry Cejudo, you know Camru Carlos Prates, Brandon Marino, Brandon Royal, there's just the list go on and on.
  • Valentina Schamco — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Alexander Pantoa, Alex Pereira, Valentina Schamco, Henry Cejudo, you know Camru Carlos Prates, Brandon Marino, Brandon Royal, there's.
  • Tito Ortiz — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    Legendary MMA fighter, mentioned in historical context.
    Yeah. political they're they're they're all political figures but I'm just saying if you're going to really name who the difference I mean there's been a lot of.
  • Chuck Liddell — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    Legendary MMA fighter, mentioned in historical context.
    Difference I mean there's been a lot of great there's been Anderson Silva there's been Leo Machita there's been Chuck Liddell there's been Tito Ortiz but I'm talking about like…
  • Anderson Silva — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    Legendary MMA fighter, mentioned in historical context.
    Difference I mean there's been a lot of great there's been Anderson Silva there's been Leo Machita there's been Chuck Liddell there's been Tito Ortiz but I'm talking about like…
  • Damasio Paige — Person · Referenced athlete · 2 mentions · first at
    Former Legacy Fighting Championship champion, mentioned in a historical fight.
    Fights and then the final fight was a guy by the name of Alexander Pantosia who fought for the RFA and he fought a guy named Damasio Paige who was Legacy's champion. It was an incredible fight.
  • Luke Rockhold — Person · Referenced athlete · 2 mentions · first at
    MMA fighter from Strikeforce, mentioned in historical context.
    That's how they got Daniel Cormier because Daniel Cormier was signed to Strikeforce originally.
  • Daniel Cormier — Person · Referenced fighter; acquisition example · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a Strikeforce-signed athlete later acquired into UFC ecosystem after UFC bought Strikeforce.
    That's how they got Daniel Cormier because Daniel Cormier was signed to Strikeforce originally.
  • Khalil Roundtree — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who fought in LFA before joining the UFC.
    Everybody opportunities. we have guys who've had their debut with us and fought all the way through. Guys like Khalil Roundtree, he fought all his fights before he was in the…
  • Elvis Duran — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who fought in LFA before joining the UFC.
    Like Khalil Roundtree, he fought all his fights before he was in the UFC with the LFA. McKenzie Duran fought a lot of her fights in the LFA before she went to the UFC. so I…
  • Brandon Marino — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Valentina Schamco, Henry Cejudo, you know Camru Carlos Prates, Brandon Marino, Brandon Royal, there's just the list go on and on.
  • Brandon Royal — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Know Camru Carlos Prates, Brandon Marino, Brandon Royal, there's just the list go on and on.
  • Carlos Prates — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter who came through LFA, mentioned as an example of success.
    Valentina Schamco, Henry Cejudo, you know Camru Carlos Prates, Brandon Marino, Brandon Royal, there's just the list go on and on.
  • Antonio Rodrigo Noggera — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter from Pride, mentioned in historical context.
    Because there were so many athletes from Pride that were going to come to the UFC and there was so much history in those athletes that when they bought it really, they bought…
  • Vanderlay Silva — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter from Pride, mentioned in historical context.
    Those athletes that when they bought it really, they bought it for the content because, how are you going to promote Vanderlay Silva? How are you going to promote Antonio…
  • Shogun Hua — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter from Pride, mentioned in historical context.
    Promote Vanderlay Silva? How are you going to promote Antonio Rodrigo Noggera or Shogun Hua if you didn't have the content to show who they were?
  • Leo Machita — Person · Referenced athlete · 1 mention · first at
    MMA fighter, mentioned in historical context.
    Going to really name who the difference I mean there's been a lot of great there's been Anderson Silva there's been Leo Machita there's been Chuck Liddell there's been Tito Ortiz but I'm talking about like tipping points of where things.

Companies & orgs

  • Legacy Fighting Alliance — Company · Business focus · 5 mentions · first at
    Developmental organization for MMA fighters, discussed as a breeding ground for UFC champions.
  • UFC — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at
    Primary organization discussed as the pinnacle of MMA, with LFA serving as a developmental league for it.
    With the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, an ally of the UFC and a breeding ground for 27% of all of the current UFC champions. They are breeding the best of the…
  • Resurrection Fighting Alliance — Company · Predecessor · 5 mentions · first at
    Predecessor to LFA, merged with Legacy Fighting Championship to form LFA.
  • Access TV — Company · Media partner · 5 mentions · first at
    Former broadcaster for RFA and Legacy Fighting Championship events.
    Know, I just sat down with Mick and we actually before we sat down in 2015, Access TV, a lot of people would say, Hey, the RFA is better than Legacy. And some people would say…
  • PFL — Company · Competitor · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a competitor to the UFC, though not as prestigious.
    Competed for the LFA, we support you all the way regardless of where you go. whether you go to the PFL, whether you go to One Championship, whether you go to Ryzen, whether you…
  • One Championship — Company · Competitor · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a competitor to the UFC, particularly in Asia.
    Competed for the LFA, we support you all the way regardless of where you go. whether you go to the PFL, whether you go to One Championship, whether you go to Ryzen, whether you…
  • Tough Media — Company · Affiliation · 1 mention · first at
    Management company founded by Ed Sores and his partner.
    And we started broadcasting that in 2004. And then eventually it led into me my partner and I starting our management company which is called Tough Media. And then and then we…
  • Ryzen — Company · Competitor · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a competitor to the UFC.
    Competed for the LFA, we support you all the way regardless of where you go. whether you go to the PFL, whether you go to One Championship, whether you go to Ryzen, whether you…
  • Pride — Company · Historical reference · 2 mentions · first at
    Former MMA organization, acquired by the UFC, discussed in historical context.
    Everyone else is just you didn't go to the UFC. Those are so Pride's not around anymore.
  • Strikeforce — Company · Historical reference · 1 mention · first at
    Former MMA organization, acquired by the UFC, discussed in historical context.
    That's how they got Daniel Cormier because Daniel Cormier was signed to Strikeforce originally.

Products & tech

  • Ed Suarez Pro — Product · Contact channel / personal brand handle promoted by guest · 1 mention · first at
    Guest provides this as the primary way to connect via social media; functions as a branded handle rather than a separate company.
    God bless you. I hope you hit every single one of your goals. If people want to connect with you, how can they find you?

Concepts & topics

  • Gracie Jiu-Jitsu — Concept · Core topic · 3 mentions · first at
    Specific style of jiu-jitsu developed by the Gracie family, foundational to MMA.
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at
    Central martial art discussed, foundational to MMA and the UFC's origins.
  • developmental organization — Concept · Strategy · 4 mentions · first at
    Describes the role of LFA in preparing fighters for higher levels of competition like the UFC.
  • BJJ — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at
    Abbreviation for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, discussed as a key component of MMA training.
    And like I said, Hian proved his point that, nowadays you cannot fight mixed martial arts without knowing jiu-jitsu. If you don't know jiu-jitsu, you're going to get beat.
  • Leverage — Concept · Key argument · 3 mentions · first at
    Discussed as a fundamental principle in jiu-jitsu and business strategy.
    It's amazing, just to prove the power of leverage.
  • gratitude — Concept · Key argument · 2 mentions · first at
    Highlighted as a valuable trait in personal and professional life.
    Cost anything to give. And for whoever is receiving it, it's priceless. And just imagine how much better this world would be if people had more gratitude.
  • Japanese jiu-jitsu — Concept · Related concept · 1 mention · first at
    Martial art from which Brazilian jiu-jitsu was derived.
    And then they just improved upon it or added more technique to it.

Places & events

  • Brazil — Place · Origin · 4 mentions · first at
    Country of origin for Brazilian jiu-jitsu and many MMA fighters.
    Business producing a TV show called Passing the Guard. It was a it was a program it was a TV show like a magazine show from Brazil that was it was called Basana Guada in Brazil which translates to passing the guard.
  • California — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    State where Ed Sores was born and raised, and where LFA is based.
    Our niche was kind of we were bringing athletes from Brazil. I'm Brazilian. I was born and raised here in California, but my mom and dad are Brazilian. And so I spoke fluent…
  • Redondo Beach — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    Location where Ed Sores and his business partner met.
    Are Brazilian. And so I spoke fluent Portuguese and my business partner is from Brazil. I actually met him when I was like 15 years old. He actually was my next door neighbor…
  • South Bay — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    Area where Ed Sores and the Gracie family are located.
    The Gracie family. You've known them since they were children. And you're in the You guys never moved. You're all in the same area, the South Bay.
  • Texas — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Location where Legacy Fighting Championship was based.
    Was a president of the RFA, which stood for Resurrection Fighting Alliance. And then there was Legacy Fighting Championship based out of Texas, which was owned by a guy named Mick Maynard.
  • Staple Center — Place · Event location · 1 mention · first at
    Venue mentioned as a place where UFC fighters compete.
    That these guys were a little bit got used to you know having cameras and lights in their face so they weren't so overwhelmed when they stepped into the octagon for the first…
  • Abu Dhabi — Place · Event location · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a location for grappling tournaments.
    Yeah. and a ton of other grappling tournaments that they're at. There's Abu Dhabi.

Media & podcasts

  • Coffees for Closers — Media · Host platform · 3 mentions · first at
    Podcast where the interview with Ed Sores takes place.
    Welcome to another episode of Coffees for Closers. Today you guys are in for a very special guest. I'm sitting down with the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, an ally of the UFC.
  • Passing the Guard — Media · Historical reference · 1 mention · first at
    Early TV show produced by Ed Sores, related to MMA and jiu-jitsu.
    Into the business, I got into the business producing a TV show called Passing the Guard. It was a it was a program it was a TV show like a magazine show from Brazil that was it…

Full transcript with timestamps

had uh about 40% of Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Oh yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Hey hey hey. Heat. Heat.

Welcome to another episode of Coffees for Closers. Today you guys are in for a very special guest. I'm sitting down with the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, an ally of the UFC and a breeding ground for 27% of all of the current UFC champions. They are breeding the best of the best of the best and their fight teams are incredible. Please welcome the founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, Ed Sores. Thanks, Ed, for jumping on the show. Oh man, my pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Coming in from hot from Roondo Beach. I appreciate uh you coming in. Um it's an absolute pre pleasure. I myself I'm a big fighting fan, fan of yours, fan of what you're doing and a fan of what you're doing uh to really elevate the fight game. So, you know, God bless. Uh I like to start every show off the same way I start with all my guests. And what's your what's your morning routine in?

You know, I I wake up uh it depends on the day. I don't I don't have like a a set routine every day. Um I just wake up um grab a coffee at the downstairs and then I kind of see what I have to do for the day. So I don't really have a set routine. If there's if uh if I have time and there's waves, I'll go surf. If not, I I just go right to the office.

Nice. Okay. Nothing crazy like these fighters that you're breeding. No, nothing like that.

Nice. So I'm gonna I'm gonna jump right into it. Uh what was your journey like when you started in the MMA game? Like what was the vision to start LFA? How did that start? What year did it start? What was the concept that you had that really made it different than you know what existed at the time, which is the old school UFC?

Well, the reality of it is is um you know, I I started back uh working in the business um in back in 2004. When I got into the business, I I got into the business producing a TV show called uh Passing the Guard. It was a it was a program um it was a TV show like a magazine show from Brazil that was it was called Basana Guada in Brazil which which translates to passing the guard. And we started broadcasting that in 2004. And then eventually it led into me um my partner and I uh starting our management company which is called Tough Media. And um and then and then we we I managed athletes. So we were bringing our our our niche was kind of we were bringing athletes from Brazil. I'm Brazilian. I was born and raised here in California, but um but my mom and dad are Brazilian. And uh so I spoke fluent Portuguese and my business partner um is from Brazil. I actually met him when I was like 15 years old. He actually was

my next door neighbor uh in Redondo and that's when we first met. and uh he's a legend in the sport. His his name is uh George Gimarange and um everyone knows him as kind of his nickname. Um but you know he's just been a legend and he's been a pioneer in this sport. As a matter of fact, when Hy and Gracie uh moved here from Brazil in the late 70s, George came with him to spread the word of jiu-jitsu.

Wow. I mean, you guys have been pioneering, you know, BJJ since its onset here in the US. You know, I I asked you about the Gracie family. You've known them since they were children. And and you're in the You guys never moved. You're all in the same area, the South Bay.

Yeah. Yeah. I I I'm you know, really uh you know, I've known Han and I I I actually became really good friends with with with Hoist. And uh that's uh you know he actually got me into training jiu-jitsu was Hoist

and he's the founder of UFC. No, Hian is the founder of of UFC, but Hoist was the was the Gracie who um you know Hian put in there to prove the efficiency of of jiu-jitsu. You know, um the UFC was never started to become a sport. Um, Hian created the UFC to to prove to the world that Gracie jiu-jitsu is the most efficient martial art in the world. And he proved that, you know, and um, you know, there was other guys that in theory, oh, you know, Hixon was better this, but, they wanted to use hoist because he was the best example of how you didn't have to have size or muscle or anything like that to to make jiu-jitsu work. It was all technique.

And you know, Hoist was six foot, six foot one, 170 pounds. And he he created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to to show the efficiency of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. And obviously, he proved that. And then, you know, the sport kind of or then and then the UFC kind of took on a life of its own and developed to what we see today.

It's amazing, you know, just to prove the power of leverage. Yes. You know, the power of leverage is so immense when you go up against a monster and a little guy like Hoist or or Heron or you know, you know, all the Gracie family who who went into the UFC and just mollywoped everybody at small sizes. People were bewildered by the power of leverage.

Yeah. I mean, jiu-jitsu was unknown. You know, people didn't understand it. And uh and like I said, you know, Hian proved his point that, you know, nowadays you cannot fight mixed martial arts without knowing jiu-jitsu. If you don't know jiu-jitsu, you're going to get beat. There's I mean I They had wrestlers, they had grapplers, but nobody BJJ just was the supreme. But when I ask people like Brazilian jiu-jitsu versus Japanese jiu-jitsu because Brazil got jiu-jitsu from Japan,

right? And then they just improved upon it or added more technique to it. They modified it more for uh real live combat versus

more of the martial art of it. I mean it obviously it is a martial art but you know the Gracies um you know Haleo um Hian's father um was the one who who really modified it because he was such a smaller guy. He had to prove that you didn't have to have size and bulk to be efficient.

Yeah. He was a tiny guy. He was. He's still alive. He's like 90, right? No. No. He's passed away um I don't know, maybe 10, 15 years ago. I don't recall the actual date. Yeah.

Yeah. The Gracie family is amazing. It's how they keep jiu-jitsu at every age and how they train their kids at birth

just like very small. Yeah. Moves. It is. It is incredible. I mean, uh, they, you know, they, like I said, you know, the UFC, um, wouldn't be here today without Horian Gracie.

Now, we fast forward. So, 2000, so when did, uh, when did Legacy start? Well, the way, um, it started was, um, I was a president of the RFA, which stood for Resurrection Fighting Alliance. And then there was Legacy Fighting Championship based out of Texas, which was owned by a guy named Mick Maynard. Mick Maynard and his wife owned um Andrea uh owned uh Legacy Fighting Championship and we were both on um Access TV at the time. So we approximately did about I don't know 14 shows a year. Legacy did about 14 to 15 shows a year. And um basically the reason we we we formed the LFA was because we were always constantly trying to you know negotiate as we would do in business to better our our deal with Access TV. And um and what happened was is every time Mick would go to Access TV and try to negotiate to get a better deal, they would turn around and say, "Well, hey, if you don't like it, I could always give more dates to the

RFA." And every time we would go negotiate with them, um they would say, "Hey, if if you guys don't like it, I could give more dates to Legacy." And uh what ended up happening is one time, you know, I just sat down with Mick and we actually before we sat down um in 2015, um you know, Access TV, a lot of people would say, "Hey, the RFA is better than Legacy." And some people would say Legacy is better than the RFA. So, I'm a competitive person. So, I said, "Well, then let's see who's better." And uh what we did is we were the first ones in the United States and North America to do an event that was uh RFA versus Legacy. And uh what we did is we did um three fights that night that were um our guys that uh fought for RFA versus their guys that fought in Legacy. Um, and then we did one title fight of the RFA, one title fight for Legacy, and then the final fight of the night was our champion versus their champion in the

flyweight division. Um, and we created a title called the Access TV title. There was only one event that had it. There was only one person that won the title. And, uh, we did that event in in in um, I believe it was May of 2015. Uh we went in uh uh the first three fights, RFA won two of them. Um Legacy won one and then they had their title fights and then the final fight uh was a guy by the name of Alexander Pantosia who fought for the RFA and he fought a guy named Damasio Paige who was Legacy's champion. It was an incredible fight.

Um, you know, the first round, um, I believe Damasio won that round and then the second round they got back on the ground and, you know, um, they were they were, um, you know, they were grappling, you know, they were there and and then, uh, right at like 15 seconds left into the round, you know, um, Damasio was in uh, was in Pantoia's guard and, um, Pantoia threw on a triangle and then the, you know, the 10 seconds clap clap. you know, hit and uh he kept he kept doing it. Then the bell rang and as soon as the bell rang, they separated him and when they separated him, Damasio Paige was passed out on on top of him and and Pantoia won the won the fight. Um and you know, Alexander Pantoia went on and he was a UFC champion. He actually just lost his title because he dislocated his arm 26 seconds into the fight. So, they called the fight, but he was on his I believe he had four title defenses um

before he he lost the fight, but was I I I don't consider it a loss because he dislocated his arm because he fell wrong. So, yes, on his record, it's a loss, but uh he'll be back to get his title back uh here probably by the middle of the year.

That's awesome. That's awesome. So, what came of that? Yes, the RFA won three fights to one, but what the most that that was almost irrelevant at the time. I mean, yeah, it was nice. You know, who who doesn't like to win? But the greatest thing we got is that we got along great. Mick Mick and our team and and their team got along great and and uh you know, you know, once again creating leverage. So, you know, I I I was talking to Mick and I said, "Hey, you know, between you and between the LFA and RFA, we are um creating 80% of the content that Access TV has on their Friday night fights." And I said, "The best way for us to create leverage for us to get what we want is for us to merge. Because if we merge, there's no one else out there that can do 30 shows a year." Um, and that's the way that we could switch the table on them. And, and then basically in the middle of towards the end of 2016,

um, we announced our merger. And, um, right about two weeks before we announced the merger, the UFC, um, asked Mick to become the matchmaker for the UFC. So, Mick ended up taking the job at the UFC. We merged the companies and um we were partners the first year. So 2017 uh when the LFA was started, it was started uh January 13th, 2017, we were partners and then and then in the beginning of 2018, we ended up buying Mick Out and then um and and the LFA is what it is today. So, the LFA started in 2017 and uh you know uh we just did our 226th show um a couple weeks ago actually. No. Yeah. Last week. Last Friday.

Wow. So, so you guys did a merger with another So, you guys almost other than UFC and then LFA, who else is a competitor in the Is King of the Cage not around anymore? Well, I I mean, we are the LFA is the number one developmental organization in the world. That's that's like

that's not even me saying it. It's not it's not it's a fact. I mean, Google it. You know what I mean? You could Google it. You could ask Chat GPT. You could ask Gemini. They'll tell you we're the number one developmental organization.

So, the UFC is what they are. and and me coming from the management side, the reason why I've always wanted to create a developmental organization, which started in 2012 with the RFA was that I realized that these athletes were fighting in a high school gymnasium in front of 500 people and then they'd get the opportunity to fight in the UFC and next thing you know, they're walking out at Staple Center with 17,000 people and they were a little bit shell shocked. So I wanted to create an environment so that these guys were a little bit got used to you know having cameras and lights in their face so they weren't so um overwhelmed when they stepped into the octagon uh for the first time. So that's why we created a developmental organization. And um you know at first a lot of people looked at me like I was crazy saying I can remember people telling me uh so you're telling me you're going to create uh build up this

talent and then just give them to the UFC. And I said yeah and they'd kind of roll their eyes and go yeah we we'll see how that works. And you know I kind of had a vision that I knew it was going to work and and it did. And you know, I'm so grateful for the team that we have around us because obviously, yes, I'm the CEO and a lot of times I get the um the credit for creating this, but you know, I I wouldn't have been able to do it without the team of people that I have around me.

Why not like make it a competitor like Pride did or like you're right there. You already have the best fighters in the world. um just a matter of like they need to make more money or like what is

it's just I'm just not interested in that. I like developing talent. I like getting talent uh uh at a young age and developing them to make them flourish and uh the UFC is it's kind of like the NFL, you know what I mean? Like there to me the UFC is like the NFL.

It is. And there's no compet there is no competitor. So So like they say, "Oh, PFL." Well, the PFL is like the Canadian Football League. And what we are, we're like the NCAA Division One of our of our sport. So to me, um, you know, I don't know too many athletes or too many football players that grow up wanting to play football and say, "Man, one day I want to be a big star in the Canadian Football League." No, they want to be a big star in the NFL. The same way that these fighters want to uh be a big star in the UFC. So the way I look at it is is I I knew we had a niche. I knew we had something that was good that we developed the talent and and like I said, you know, currently approximately about 40% of the current UFC roster are LFA alumni. Uh currently 27% if Pantosia would have um not hurt his arm and and lost that fight, we'd be at 36% of the current UFC champions would be LFA alumni. because he lost that fight,

we're at 27% of the current UFC champions are LFA alumni. Those are just remarkable statistics. How in the world are you getting that sort of conversion out of your your developmental organization? Because that's just unreal to have that many champions

come out of LFA. It's almost like they should all start in LFA. Well, I mean, like I said, we're the number one developmental organization. And the reason why I feel that our athletes do so well is that we really put on real fights. Uh we put on good fights. So, so we prepare like the the bigger organizations know that if you're winning fights in the LFA, you're actually winning tough fights and you're winning fights. So, they know that when they get that opportunity to step onto the big stage, they're prepared uh to to do that. And um that's what we do, you know. We we we put on tough fights.

There's a lot of promotions out there that kind of uh create create these uh situations to for guys to build up wins, you know? Oh, I'm I'm 11 and0, but they haven't fought anybody. Like, if you're 11 and0 in the LFA, like you're a beast. You know what I'm saying? Versus if you're 11 and0 in some of these other organizations, you could at the at the fair. You could have been f you could have been fighting the hot dog salesman or an Uber driver or whatever it is, but but not not not in the LFA. I mean, that's why our our our athletes are battle tested. And um so the vetting process is what you basically stand on.

It's like your fighters, how how do you like find these specific fighters? What's the like the protocol that you go through or the due diligence process to identify that a fighter is worthy to to to go through the LFA?

Well, um you know, we we try to give everybody opportunities. You know, we have guys who've had their debut with us and fought all the way through. Guys like Khalil Roundtree, he fought all his fights before he was in the UFC with the LFA. McKenzie Duran fought a lot of her fights um in in in the LFA um before she went to the UFC. Um you know, so I would say a lot of the a lot of the managers and a lot of the athletes know that we are the breeding ground and we are like we're like the division one of our sport. So it's almost kind of like if you're a if you're a Alabama, right? If you're Alabama and you're a division one, you know, football team, like how do you how do they get their guys? Yeah, they recruit, but at the end of the day, the kids know, hey, man, I want to go to Alabama because I'm going to get the the experience, the coaching to prepare me to go to the NFL or I'm going to go to

another big university, you know, or the SEC or where wherever you're going to play. So, so that's the way I look at it.

Fighters know it's in the fight circle that the LFA, that's where you go first before you go to the UFC. Well, it's it's not always like that, but but like I said, look at the numbers. The numbers don't lie, you know.

I mean, listen, you got you had Holly Holmes come through there, Alex Pento, like the best of the best.

Alexander Pantoa, Alex Pereira, um Valentina Schamco, Henry Cejudo, um you know Camru um I mean, Carlos Prates, uh Brandon Marino, uh Brandon Royal, uh there's just the list go on and on.

Wow. Yeah, it's just remarkable. Now, um, what's a moment that you feel like really tested you personally and professionally when it came to building the LFA? Because it started off as a dream. It's not like it started off like what it is now.

No, I mean, there's been so many adversities that we've had to overcome from I mean, it just it's constantly testing you. You know, as soon as you figure you think you figured it out, something new comes up that you've never thought about. So, it it's a constant grind, but you know, I believe in doing something you love. I love what I do. I I love uh seeing the success of our athletes. I think our athletes, it's it's almost kind of like if you fight in the LFA, it's almost like a fraternity. It's like, you know, once once you've competed for the LFA, we support you all the way regardless of where you go. Um, whether you go to the PFL, whether you go to One Championship, whether you go to Ryzen, whether you go to the UFC, we support our athletes and and and we just want them to do well because their success I indirectly is our success and that means we've done our job right if they're having success.

Let me ask you this. How do you spot a champion like a Holly Holmes? What really separates these people early on? Um, I mean, there's different there's different uh different athletes that kind of have different paths, but I I think um, you know, just them going out there and them competing and and them you know, overcoming adversities, uh, you know, when a lot of these athletes, you know, they'll they'll they'll have great starts to their their career, you know, they'll they'll go out there and they'll, you know, they're talented and they go out there and they beat everybody, But, you know, where you really see the the heart of a champion is when they overcome adversities, when when they're when they're going through a rough part or when they're down two rounds and they come back and and win in the third round or win in the fourth round. just it it just kind of happens, you know, and and I think that um like I

said before, I it's just the LFA, the athletes that come out of the LFA that are winning fights in the LFA are battle tested and and I think the bigger organizations know that if you're winning fights in the LFA, you're actually really winning fights and and you're battle tested. So, they know that when they go into the UFC or another big organization, they know they don't have to worry, is this guy going to perform? What other big or organization is there besides the UFC?

I mean, you know, there's people, you know, talk about PFL and talk about one and one championship in in in in Asia and, you know, they talk about Ryzen, but

to me, I mean, the big organization is the UFC. I mean, there is no real Everyone else is just like, you know, you didn't go to the UFC. Those are I mean, so Pride's not around anymore. It's

No, Pride got bought by the UFC. Oh, so it's all Okay. I didn't know that Pride now is UFC.

Well, no, it's not that it is UFC. They they own the intellectual property of Pride. They bought it. And there was a big, you know, big things behind that because there were so many athletes from Pride that were going to come to the UFC and and there was so much history in those athletes that when they bought it really, they bought it for the content because, you know, how are you going to promote Vanderlay Silva? How are you going to promote um Antonio Rodrigo Noggera or Shogun Hua if if you didn't have the content to show who they were?

You know what I'm saying? So, that was part of the evolution of the sport when they when they acquired um Pride and and they started acquiring other organizations strictly for the the content. They acquired a Strikeforce. That's how they got Luke Rockhold. That's how they got uh uh Daniel Cormier because Daniel Cormier was signed to Strikeforce originally.

Yeah. Yeah. So there's no more Strike Force surprise. No, Strike Force is owned by the UFC.

So in lie of Strikeforce, you're just seeing a smaller UFC fight. And now UFC has BJJ. UFC.

Yeah, they have BJJ. Yeah, for sure. I mean, if if if the UFC is not able to make BJJ big, I don't think anyone will be able to.

Yeah. I mean, now there's just UFC BJJ. Now, it's going to be, you know, at the gym I train at, uh, the youth start their at 9.

Yeah. Full-time, six hours BJJ training. Yeah. And they don't go to school. They homeschool.

Yeah. And I'm like, so what are you going to do? You know, we're going to train UFC. We're going to train jiu-jitsu. That's what we're going to do for a living. Yeah. You know, like,

well, jiu-jitsu has become a big business. You know, grappling tournaments, you can make a significant amount of money grappling now.

Yeah. between training, they train at like 200 bucks an hour privates and uh and then actually that you know now with UFC and IBJ FFF.

Yeah. Yeah. They're they're making decent money. Yeah. Um and a ton of other grappling tournaments that they're at. There's Abu Dhabi. There's there's just so many out there. And you know hopefully it it catches on. Like I said, if the UFC is not able to make it, um I believe that if the UFC is not able to make it become a mainstream sport, I don't think anybody can.

Now, there's a lot of people that want to be MMA fighters. What's a common misconception about becoming an MMA fighter that most people get wrong?

Well, I I just think a lot of the times people always see the end result. They don't see all the hard work and and all the dedication and all the adversities and all the injuries and all the over things you have to overcome to be that. You know, people see the Alex Pereira, they see the Jon Jones of the world, but they don't really see everything behind the scenes of all the dedication and all the sacrifices you have to make to become successful in the sport. You know, when you think about it, how many people want to be a UFC fighter? There's only about 600 to 650 athletes signed to the UFC. So to think that out of the whole world, eight billion people in the world

and everybody's fighting and everybody's fighting. So 8 billion people in the world, there's only 650 in the UFC, you have to really dedicate yourself and be elite to get there. And then once you're there to be the elite amongst the elite, that's a whole other level.

Yeah. And then to be the champion, there's only five of them. There's only 11 of them. Yeah,

there's in the UFC there's 11 weight divisions and then 12 if you consider the BMF.

Yeah. title. And then to hold some of you know, you got then you got guys that hold them in multiple weight divisions.

Yeah. Nowadays, they don't allow you to hold uh titles in in two different weight divisions, but they they have been like for instance like a Alex Barrera, he's been the middleweight champion, he's been the light heavyweight champion. Um, and there's a chance he's going to be going up and and become in fighting for a heavyweight title. You've got McGregor who who actually he was the first one to simultaneously have them because he was the featherweight champ and then he won the lightweight title at the same time. So he, you know, like McGregor is, you know, he he's an incredible athlete, an incredible figure in our sport. I mean the attention that uh Conor McGregor had has brought to our sport. I I mean I I feel that the biggest names of of like people that have brought attention to our sport, one of them is Conor McGregor, the other is um Ronda Rousey.

You know Ronda Rousey was was uh one that really revolutionized uh our sport. And you know before Ronda Rousey, Dana never saw women fighting in the UFC. And um you know Ronda Rousey was someone that really broke a lot of barriers. You know she was uh um you know the first time the UFC was mentioned in Time magazine was uh because of Ronda Rousey. Yeah.

So Ronda Rousey has been a a huge staple in the success of the sport. Also Ronda Rousey I I feel like Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, these are like

Yeah. Yeah. But but yeah, Jones to me, Jon Jones brought some negative heat to the

Yeah, but you know, I think I think he's a little bit misunderstood. Jon Jones is an incredible human being. He's a good person. Yeah, he might make some bad choices, but everyone has and um but but to me, I think the people who if you were going to re say who revolutionized the sport, I would say obviously Hoist Gracie. Um, and then you look at the the fight between um Forest Griffin and Stefan Bonner. Uh, that was the first Ultimate Fighter that basically put the UFC on the map. Um, that was a revolutionary moment in our sport. And then you look at athletes like uh Ronda Rousey who who really

Ortiz too. Yeah. political they're they're they're all political figures but I'm just saying if you're going to really name who the the difference I mean there's been a lot of great there's been Anderson Silva there's been Leo Machita there's been Chuck Liddell there's been Tito Ortiz but I'm talking about like tipping points of of where where things made a difference I I would say Hoy Gracie I would say the fight between um uh between uh Forest Griffin and and Stefan Bonner and then I'd go to like a Ronda Rousey and then I and then I would go to like a Conor McGregor that's brought it to to new to new points, new heights. Yeah.

Yeah. It's amazing to see the evolution of the sport and now it's going to be I mean for my kids generation it's it is like the NFL you know every kid knows every fighter. It's very very normalized in every so you know every culture now.

Yeah. I mean it's, you know, uh Dana has said it very, you know, in a lot of times like fighting is in our DNA. Like if you if you go and if you were to put if you were on a four corners and there was a a baseball game going on, a football game going on, and then there was a fight, everyone's going to watch the fight. I mean, think about it. In school, when there was a fight, everybody would run to go watch the fight. People love to watch fights.

I take Dena's uh advice. I hear him on podcasts and people ask him like, "What sport would you put your kids in? jiu-jitsu 100%.

So he not baseball. I mean I put my kids jiu-jitsu is like baseline then it's like baseball, football, basketball, you know.

I mean I think I think kids playing multiple sports is always good, you know. I I I think that you know I grew up playing a lot of baseball and it's like you know

but but I played baseball during baseball season. I played football during football season. I played basketball. So, I think it makes the kids very well-rounded nowadays with all the specialties and all the things like you could play year- round baseball. There wasn't year- round baseball when I played baseball. I I wish there was, but but there isn't. But it really, you know, helps the kids diversify in playing different sports. So, I think it's important, you know, and you know, living by the beach, you know, surfing is great, you know, skiing if you live in the mountains. So, there's just, you know, as long as a kid stays active and and and I think is important.

Yeah. Yeah, because it just helps with their overall discipline in general and that's translates into real life anyways.

100%. Um, so I'm going to ask you this. What's like the biggest mistake you think you've made in building your your organization? Now,

the biggest mistake, man, I I I don't um, you know, I that's a good question. And I I I I don't know what what the biggest mistake would be, but I

would be like, "Not I should have signed that fighter or I I wish I got that venue or I wish I would that lawsuit."

Yeah. Well, the reality of it is I I think everything happens for a reason. For a reason. And uh regardless of what it goes, I you know, like I tell our athletes sometimes, you know, you see a kid come up and he's doing really well and then he loses. And I always tell him, I said, "You know, you don't you don't lose in the LFA. You either win or you learn. So when I look at mistakes, I don't I don't necessarily look at like a loss or a mistake. I look at it as like it was a learning experience. And sometimes when when you lose something, I you know, I didn't go to college, so I think you know, if I made a mistake, like we say, and oh man, I lost, I just look at it, well, that was um a semester of college for me, the the the money I lost, the experience I got, and I'll never make that mistake again. So like I said, even when you you make mistakes and and you do that, I think what you have to do is you have to learn from

them and improve. So I think that's uh that's the way we look at it, you know. Well, then piggybacking on that, we're not going to call them mistakes. You built this massive organization that has 27% of the current champions. What's some of the greatest lessons that you've learned? Well, I I mean there's there's just so many different lessons in in so many I mean I just think that you you have to keep striving. Like there is no such thing as a perfect event. There is no such thing like I feel that when you have a when you think you've had a perfect event, you might as well just retire because there's always things that you can improve. I'm I'm always looking to improve no matter how great an event is, no how great. And I think that when you look at fighters as as champions, like they may have an incredible fight, but there's always something that they can get better at.

So, I think that, you know, just stay focused on the goal and and um be humble and work hard. And I think those are those are the rules, you know, treat people the way you like to be treated. And I think that's the key to life. I mean, you know, and and I think overall the the one of the biggest things that I think people need to recognize is having gratitude. You know, gratitude is something that um I say this all the time. Gratitude doesn't cost you a penny to give people gratitude. But to receive gratitude, it's priceless. And time and time again, I think, why why don't people have more gratitude? It doesn't cost anything to give. And for whoever is receiving it, it's priceless. And just imagine how much better this world would be if people had more gratitude.

You know, one of some of the greatest fighters I met, I was just telling you, you know, I had got to hang out with, you know, another UFC fighter, Giga, and some they are just so meek, so humble, so thankful. Some of these fighters are such just genuinely good people. You'd look at them, you're like, man, he's vicious. And you talk to them, you're like,

and he's so Christlike, like he was so godly because they just a lot of them are very humble guys, you know? Is there a fighter in mind that you think of when you like, man, that guy was just such a good guy?

I mean, there's there's there's many there's many there's many fighters, you know. Um I mean, one that comes to mind, you know, is like Alex Pereira or Alexander Pantoia. And those are ones that I have personal relationships with that I that I know the kind of people that they are. And Alex Pereira right now to me is the biggest star in mixed martial arts right now. there's no bigger name in our the active name that's bigger than him right now. And um you know he he's taught me a lot um about you know I used to I've had experiences with other guys that I've worked with where I I've seen the money and and the fame kind of kind of change them and and and uh

but what I've realized is that you know money and fame doesn't change people. Um it it doesn't change people. When I used to say, "Oh, the money and fame changes people." It doesn't change people. What money and fame does is it magnifies the person that you really are. Because a guy like Alex Pereira with all the money and the success that he's had, it almost seems like he's become a better person, but it's not that he's become a better person. It just magnified the great person that he was. And then when you see someone you say, "Oh man, the money and fame changed him." The money and fame didn't change that person. What happened was is before the guy had the money and fame, he was wearing a mask.

He was being he was being fake. He wasn't really being who he really is. And the minute that he gets the money and fame, he can act the way he really is. And that's what happens when people say, "Oh, the money and fame." No, the money and fame didn't change him. The money and fame just let him show who he really was. And that's what I feel. Money, success, money, all of that. That that doesn't change people. What that does is it just brings out the person that they really are. You know, that struck me and what you said really resonated with me because I've had the opportunity to really be of a blessing to many people and take people from rags to riches. People that I thought would were like, "Oh, I'm going to help this guy and I that's my job. I I just serve and uh you know I'll take someone who's dirt poor and make him a millionaire and I'm thinking you know he's going to be so thankful or whatever like

just magnifies who they were and they're like this guy's an evil dude you know like or girl or whatever and it's like you're absolutely right money and fame just magnifies the the the character of the the person

100% it does 100% it does you know you look at at least that's my experience and and and I could tell you the person who really taught me that that really taught me that to see that it was true was Alex Pereira. He he was the one who who showed me that

but he shows you in in a good light. You didn't he he showed me in a in a good way that like like I said it almost seems like the money and fame made him a better person. But it's not that it made him a better person. It just magnified the great person that he already was. And now he's got the money and the fame to to to show the real person he was. And I've also seen it work the opposite. Yeah. Where I've seen people be very nice, humble, and then they got money and fame and all of a sudden they're not like that anymore. But that's just because they were just being fake. It wasn't that the money changed them. Now they've just been able to take their mask off because they feel, hey, I've got the money. I've got the fame. I could act any way that I want.

Or I could be my real self. I could be my real self. And and that's unfortunately what you see. Now you developed one of the best promotions ever in fight history. What's like a common misconception or like basically what's like a a sad truth about being a promoter that you've you've experienced? Well, I mean, I I think that, you know, being a promoter sometimes, um, being good at your job kind of can bite you in the butt, you know, like, so for instance, you know, you have to promote, right? So, it's like, you know, let's just say the ticket sales are not that good, but you can't go out there and say, well, you know, ticket sales aren't that good. You got to you got to promote. You got to make it seem. So sometimes you have to you have to hype it up and there's just a lot of things that sometimes you doing your job can come back and bite you in the butt. You know what I mean? So like you know even

though maybe a show didn't do as well as as people may have thought but you as a promoter you got to promote. You know nobody wants to hear well yeah you know ticket sales aren't that great and I don't know how it's going to go. Like what kind of promoter will you be then? you know, you got to be No, no, things are great. Things are going and and sometimes I'm not going to say you're you're you're

excuse my language, bullshitting, but you have to you have to promote it. You have to you have to make it seem like it's good. You know what I mean? And and that's what it is. And and even if the numbers aren't what they are, like I said, I I I don't I look at that as a learning experience. You know, I come back and I think, what can we do the next time to make it better or what were the things? And there's some things that are uncontrollable. you know, you got a main event that's a huge ticket seller and he you know, pops his knee uh you know, six days before the fight. There's nothing you can do to control that.

There's nothing. It just it's just part of the things that happen in our business.

Now, kind of wrapping things up here, you you've done a lot with with the organization. What's a personal goal that you have for yourself, a goal that you have for your family, and a business goal that you have? You know, I think the goal that I have for myself is um I just I want to be a good father and you know, I have two daughters and um I just want to know that I'm you know, a good a good a good father, a a good person to my family. Um that that's what's important to me at the end of the day. And you know, my my oldest daughter is um I you know, she's going to she got married about a year and a half ago and I'm going to have a a grandson. So, I'm I'm super excited about that. And

congratulations. And uh thank you. Yeah, I'm just, you know, just just to be a good person to to my goal is to

to leave this place a little bit better than than when I got here or do whatever I can and make a difference to make a difference in the world and make a difference in people in their lives. that that's what really excites me as far as um goals for business. Um goals for business is to just keep growing and and and keep helping people get to where they want to go. That that that that's really what enjoy, you know, that's what really what I um enjoy is is seeing people's success. And um you know I look if I was to look at a fighter or look at a person as a block wall um as a fighter if if I look at them as a a wall of success if the LFA can be a few of those bricks that make that wall of success I'm totally happy with that.

God bless. That's amazing. And I hope you hit every single one of your goals. I have one last question for you. H

when you're in front of the pearly gates, what do you think God's going to tell you?

I don't know, man. I I I really don't know. I I hope he uh I hope he welcomes me in with open arms. You know what I mean? Uh I don't know. You know, I I I feel I'm a I'm a good human being. I've always treated people the way I live by simple rules, you know? you treat people the way you'd like to be treated and and you do the right thing. You know, I've made my mistakes. I I I haven't always been perfect, but I don't think anybody has, but overall, I you know, that that's that's what I want to do. I just want to make a difference and and and try to help as many people as I can in this life.

Well, you're a great servant. You've done a lot. You've already built an incredible legacy. your company's name legacy like but the fact that you've changed an entire sport forever. You bre you've bred champions. You instill goodness in people and you just are an incredible human being, a godly human being. Raise great kids. Going to be a grandparent. And the fruits of your labor are showing

in many many ways. Not just with your work, with your family, with your business, with who you are as a person. God bless you. I hope you hit every single one of your goals. If people want to connect with you, how can they find you?

Well, I guess uh you know, probably the easiest would be through social media. You know, uh you know, my Instagram is uh Ed Suarez Pro. Um and that that's probably the easiest way um to get to get a hold of me would probably be through social media.

Thanks, Ed. Thanks for jumping on the show. I appreciate you. My pleasure. Legacy Fighting Alliance, guys, make sure you check out their fights. They're breeding the best of the best champions on the planet. get to see them before they become the UFC World Champions.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares"?

Joe Shalaby (Host), Ed Soares (Guest).

What is "Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares" about?

The conversation with Ed Soares, founder and CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance, explores his journey in the MMA industry, the vision behind establishing LFA as a key player in developing fighters for the UFC, and his insights on elevating the sport. He shares details about his morning routine and reflects on the unique concepts that set LFA apart from traditional organizations like the UFC.

What is mentioned in this Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby episode?

56 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Legacy Fighting Alliance, UFC, Ed Sores, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Mick Maynard, Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Live with CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance - Ed Soares"?

The episode runs 49 min; the transcript is about 8,328 words in 107 timestamped sections.

More from Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 12, 2026.