Why Titan FC is one of top three or four promotions in the USA
Jeff Aronson: “Titan is 100 percent considered one of the top three or four promotions in the country. You could even go higher on that list … “
There are hundreds of MMA promotions in the USA, and there is the UFC. The track record of promotions who aimed for the top of the food chain is brutal. Thus far they all lost all the money they had, sometimes tens of millions of dollars, and closed. Bellator is of course the great exception, although their finances are unknown. There are however a handful of companies who pull off a remarkable balancing act, achieving national prominence, without going head to head with the UFC.
B/R’s Duane Finley profiles one of the few, Titan Fighting Championship, helmed by Jeff Aronson, who is also the founder of Alchemist management.
“Last year was a great year, and we are going to make this one even bigger,” said Aronson. “2014 became more relevant given the state that Titan was in when I first purchased it because you look at the state that it is in now, and it’s going great. Titan is 100 percent considered one of the top three or four promotions in the country. You could even go higher on that list when you take fighter and fan appreciation into consideration. We have a lot of momentum right now, and we are going to keep rolling in 2015.
“I’m talking everything from television distribution, content distribution to sponsors. Titan has really become recognized as of late as a great place to fight. It’s culminating and steamrolling into something now that the fighters, fans and people internationally are getting to enjoy on a much bigger platform than I ever expected to happen this early on.”
An interesting element—and perhaps the most unique detail of the new Titan ownership—came in the form of every fighter’s contract coming with a “ZUFFA Out” clause.
“When you look at the fighters that fight for us, they aren’t fighting for us because we have them locked into these egregious contracts,” Aronson explained. “They are fighting for us because they want to fight for us. They are fighting for us because they are being treated better than they’ve ever been treated in their entire career and they know that we offer them something no other promotion does. The fans have rallied behind Titan for just that reason.
“We are also putting some of the stars of tomorrow on display today. You look at a guy like Desmond Green, and he’s waking up the world. He is the hottest prospect right now at 145 pounds outside of the UFC. And he’s just one of the fighters we have on the roster. If you asked me a year ago if I would have people like Rick Hawn, Cody Bollinger or Pat Healy on the roster I would have said no way. There has been so much growth in one year, and it has been absolutely amazing. My phone has been going off nonstop.”
Athletes are now confident they can come to Titan and compete without daunting contract stipulations hanging over their heads. And with the promotion securing a highly visible broadcast deal with CBS Sports, fighters were going to have a great platform to show the best of what they had to offer.
“I have read a couple of articles, and I’ve laughed when people have written about our ZUFFA Out clause, and said by doing this we’ve hurt ourselves by losing a main event or whatever it is,” said Aronson. “While I appreciate the fact someone would feel that way, the truth is that I’ve gotten it all back tenfold. So many free agents out there have contacted me about fighting for Titan because they know they can come here, fight their hearts out and don’t have to worry about being buried under our contract.
“With the Ben Saunders situation, I did it because it was the right thing to do. I did the Mirsad Bektic deal because it was the right thing to do. The same with Colby Covington. It was just the right thing to do, and you’ll never see me going out there and talking about it unless I’m asked. The Saunders situation was a bit different because it got blown up in the press, but you’ll never see me go out there and talk about these deals. I just do the right thing, and because I do, things work out well for us.
“I’ve said it in a lot of interviews, but while our competition sleeps I sign. I truly mean that, and I mean that in terms of fighters, sponsorship deals, network deals…you name it. We are constantly working. They may have been around longer than us. They may have different deals than we have, but there is no one who outworks us or puts in the time of day we do.”
Titan FC will be holding its 33rd event “Night of Champions” on March 20 in Mobile, Alabama. The show is part of AeroFest, a week-long series of events from March 17 – 20, 2015 to help raise awareness and support for programming to stem the tide veteran suicide. AeroFest further aims to foster long-term connections between military service members and the community.
Titan FC 33
Desmond Green (c) vs. Kurt Holobaugh for Titan FC Featherweight Championship
Jon Madsen vs. Chase Gormley for vacant Titan FC Heavyweight Championship
Walel Watson vs. Brett Johns for vacant Titan FC Bantamweight Championship
Cody Bollinger vs. Andre Harrison
Anthony Gutierrez vs. Austin Lyons
Ben Brewer vs. Keith Johnson
Brian Davidson vs. Estevan Payan
Belal Muhammad vs. Colton Smith
Elias Garcia vs. Matt Schnell
Bobby Cooper vs. Le’Ville Simpson
Robert Washington vs. Luciano dos Santos
“We wanted to put together something special,” said Aronson. “When we say that’s what we are going to do, then you can count on us delivering. We wanted to do something that was not only a big event but for a great cause as well. The proceeds from Aerofest go to the real warriors who have come home after defending their country and need some help. We are going to do all we can to make sure they get it.
“I really couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year for Titan. This is a huge event, and we are honored to be a part of it.”
