Soares: Won’t know till February 1st about Silva

During fight week of UFC 178, the UG’s Jonathan Shrager talks with renowned MMA manager Ed Soares to discuss a plethora of topics, including:

-His entrance into the realm of Mixed Martial Arts.

-Whether managing a UFC champion proves more taxing/time-consuming.

-Nurturing positive public perceptions of the high-profile fighters on his roster, and simultaneously tempering negative publicity.

-Insights into his fighters of which the general MMA community might not be aware.

-His most memorable moments being involved so intrinsically within the sport.

-His part within one of the sport’s greatest ever rivalries between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen.

-Managing Anderson Silva through one of the most MMA dominant reigns, and more recently through a period of adversity.

-Anderson’s state of mind as he readies himself to return following a horrific injury.

-Lyoto Machida’s position within the UFC’s talent-laden Middleweight division.

-Balancing his role as manager and friend to the fighters, and how that impacts the dynamic of his relationship with his fighters.

-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s desire to continue within the sport.

-His elationship with fighters whom he used to manage, such as Junior dos Santos and Jose Aldo.

-His roles as president of RFA (Resurrection Fighting Alliance,) a developmental organization for the UFC. 

-Whether his dual roles of manager and president of an MMA organization creates any conflicts of interest.