Vaynerchuk-headed VaynerSports enters MMA management; Tony Ferguson, other big names signed

A new company has entered the MMA management circle, and some notable fighters are represented.

VaynerSports, which was co-founded by Gary Vaynerchuk and brother AJ Vaynerchuk and serves as a talent agency in football, baseball and gaming, now has added a combat and action sports divisions to its portfolio.

Clients signed to VaynerSports include former interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, and UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes.

Lloyd Pierson, formerly of Ballengee Group, will head the management’s MMA division and be joined by Sarah Zemoneck, who will handle day-to-day client operations.

“Over the last several years, I have watched what (VaynerSports) have been able to accomplish, and the game changing approach they bring to the talent management world,” Pierson said in a statement. “I believe adding the Vayner platform will enable the sport, and the brands of individual fighters, to push the boundaries even further. I’m confident this partnership will help the sport become even more mainstream.”

The Vaynerchuk brothers co-founded VaynerSports in 2016. Gary, who launched VaynerMedia in 2009, is a well known entrepreneur and speaker who has amassed a significant social media following to compliment his various business ventures.

AJ expressed excitement to bring MMA fighters into the fold of the business and said he sees the sport as a good fit for the overall vision of the company.

“At our core, VaynerSports focuses on taking a different approach than the traditional agency model by leveraging our unique backgrounds in business, media and branding,” Vaynerchuk said. “I believe no group of athletes are more underserved than those in mixed martial arts. These men and women have both the talent and hunger to succeed in and outside of the octagon.”