Issue 124

January 2015

The manager to the stars, Black House co-founder and RFA president comes to the defense of Steven Seagal.

What is your proudest moment as the guy who has helped so many men reach the pinnacle of MMA?

“There are so many. Some that stand out for me are when Anderson Silva won the UFC middleweight title from Rich Franklin, when Lyoto Machida knocked out Rashad Evans (for the light heavyweight belt) and when (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira beat Tim Sylvia for the interim heavyweight title. I have the good fortune to have experienced some of the highest highs.”

Being so close to him personally, what emotions do you run through leading up to an Anderson Silva fight?

“The emotions are crazy. It’s a roller coaster. Not only do we have the manager-client relationship but we are like family. We fight, we argue, we want to tell each other to go f**k off sometimes but at the end of the day, we trust each other and we have each other’s back. At times he gets very frustrating to deal with and at times I’m sure I’m very frustrating to deal with. I’m stubborn, he’s stubborn but at the end of the day that’s what makes our relationship strong.”

What has been the most memorable moment from your time spent inside Black House?

“One of the coolest times was watching Steven Seagal train with Anderson Silva. It was a trip. Seagal was just helping him with little pointers and adjustments. He didn’t teach Anderson how to do that kick (the front kick that knocked Vitor Belfort out at UFC 126), but I think he did make some adjustments to help Anderson make that kick a lot more effective.”  

What was the reaction internally at Black House at the public reaction to Seagal being involved with Anderson?

“People can say what they want but unless you are there and experience it you don’t know. Steven Seagal is seen as this Hollywood guy but he understands fighting. He has been around the fight game. You have to acknowledge his accomplishments. He was the first Westerner to have a martial arts academy in Japan. That was many, many years ago. People tend to forget what people’s past accomplishments are. 

“Not only is he a friend of mine, he’s knowledgeable. He’s not a joke. It’s incredible, I have traveled with Steven Seagal and to see the respect the rest of the world gives him is incredible. It’s a shame that sometimes MMA fans don’t give him the respect he deserves.” 

If you could choose one fighter you don’t work with that you wish you could impart some wisdom on, who would it be?

“I have been very fortunate in that I have pretty much got to work with all the fighters that I wanted but one fighter I wish I would have gotten is Anthony Pettis. He’s a phenomenal fighter and I wish I would have gotten him. He is the one. He is exciting and I like what he’s about. He’s someone I could represent and he seems like he would be a good friend, too. I think he’s a nice guy and I’m a big fan of his.”