Working in MMA: Agent Malki Kawa talks about the business

This week, Cagewriter is taking a look at the jobs that make the MMA world go 'round. See the rest of the series here.

Today, we look at Malki Kawa, the president of First Round Management, an athlete representation agency that has on its roster of fighters UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Chris Leben, Carlos Condit and Thiago Alves, among other fighters.

Cagewriter: What is your job title?

Malki Kawa: Sometimes I'm called an agent, sometimes I'm called a manager.

CW: What's the difference?

MK: An agent's job is to put their guy in a position to capitalize on every opportunity they can, whether it's off a fight, a movie, or whatever. A manager is supposed to guide a fighter's career. I help guys reach their financial and their career goals. In the NFL, I was an agent, but in boxing and MMA, it's more manager. I like to think I'm a great manager, where I help guide their careers, and an even better agent, where I help them secure the financial and career goals.

CW: What's an average day like for you?

MK: I like to be in control and in the know, so when I wake up, I start checking everything out to see what happened overnight and catch up anything I missed. When I get to the office, I catch up on emails and create any proposals for any East Coast sponsors, or Joe Silva [the UFC matchmaker], because he's on the East Coast. At 12:00, the West Coast starts to happen.

From 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., my phone is ringing nonstop. I check in with most fighters, I look to see what's out there, and view a lot of different information. I look into what people are being paid, I compile a lot of data, I do a lot of market research. One of the reasons I've been successful in getting guys sponsorships is that I have a better handle on what's out there.

CW: Do you talk to your fighters everyday?

MK: No. I like to check in with every fighter at least once a week. If I don't have something to talk them about, I don't call them. There might be a fighter I don't talk to for a week. That doesn't mean I'm not thinking about them. It just means that there's not anything going on right then.

CW: What's a fight week like for you?

MK: We basically mirror them the entire time. If I have a fighter fighting on Saturday, I'll land with them either Tuesday or Wednesday. It's my job to make sure that everything is very comfortable and very easy for them. My week becomes a week to service the fighter. I'm there to be an extra hand for his team. That's when I take care of their shorts and their banner, and I make sure their corner knows what they have to wear. I don't really get a chance to rest until the night of the fight and their fight is done. If I have a main event guy, that's when I get to stop, unless they have an after-party, and then I make sure they get there, that they're safe and that they get paid.

CW: What's the best part of this job?

MK: The fighters themselves. Just going through the motions with the fighters everyday, and watching them grow. Like, watching Jon Bones grow from being a potential great fighter to being a champion. Watching Carlos Condit go through the ranks, and watching Thiago Alves try to make himself a little better. I also like watching when I come up with ideas that help change a fighter's life.

Look at Kenny Florian. It was my idea for him to drop to 145. Watching guys have faith in you, and then coming up with ideas of how they can get to certain places. I think that's why guys sign with me. Beside the fact that I make them money, and I am going to do the best I can for them. I think I'm intelligent, I think I know what people want and I think I know what the UFC wants, and I'm going to fight for my fighter.

CW: But no job is perfect. What's the worst part?

MK: Watching other managers who aren't good at what they do, who undercut their fighter's careers, they'll take a guy from you and mess things up, or fighters who become disrespectful. But honestly? I can't complain. I have the best job in the world. I think the traveling sucks. After a while, you want to be home with your family.

CW: What advice do you have for someone who wants to become an agent?

MK: If there's a guy or girl who wanted to get in this business, my best advice would be to set your mind to a goal of what you want your life to be at certain points. Set timelines. Let nothing stand in the way of that goal, and don't ever be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to go after what you want to get. Look around the room at my peers, and they come from all different backgrounds, but the one thing that they lack is the desire and drive I have. That's the reason I'm at the top of this game.

Follow Malki Kawa on Twitter here.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Working-in-MMA-Agent-Malki-Kawa-talks-about-the?urn=mma-wp4940

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Don?t bring Jon Jones a fake belt to sign

Jon Jones' ascent to the top of the UFC's light heavyweight division has been fast, but also filled with plenty of hard work and growth as a fighter. It has been far from easy. He's proud of that belt and even keeps it wrapped in a special case when not carrying it with him.

So you can understand why he's not wild about the fact that someone can go to Toys 'r' Us and buy a similar belt for $12.99.

I hate it when people come up to me with a belt that looks exactly like mine and they ask me to sign it. I worked three times a day for three years to get this belt, and now this guy asking me for an autograph has one just like it. Are you serious? I mean it's not as heavy, but it looks just the same.

Fair enough, Jon. He has grown close to that belt, and doesn't want to see the fakes out there. He will have to put it on the line on Sept. 24 against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Thanks to With Leather. Read the whole interview to hear what Jones will sign and Urijah Faber's thoughts on how to improve MMA.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Don-t-bring-Jon-Jones-a-fake-belt-to-sign?urn=mma-wp4690

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?UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz? Fight Card Takes Yet Another Hit

It appears UFC 133 may have been cursed from the jump. After watching numerous light heavyweights bow out of the Octagon’s return trip to Philadelphia with various injuries, middleweight Jorge Rivera confirmed with The MMA Hour Monday that Alessio Sakara, his scheduled opponent for the August 6th show, has a torn ACL and will be [...]

Source: http://www.5thRound.com/83057/ufc-133-evans-vs-ortiz-fight-card-takes-yet-another-hit/

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Sandro and Curran advance to Bellator 145 tournament final

Marlon Sandro and Pat Curran were favorites entering the night at Bellator 47 and both came away unscathed by using solid boxing to take out their opponents. Sandro and Curran will meet for $100,000 and a world title shot at Bellator 48 in Uncasville, Ct. on Aug. 20.

Sandro, a minus-260 favorite, continued his winning ways in the U.S.. Nazareno Malegarie  xhibited a great chin in avoiding a knockout loss, but his boxing just wasn't up to par with Sandro's nasty striking game. The Brazilian rolled over Malegarie via unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three cards.

Sandro (19-2) exploded onto the world scene with three vicious first round knockouts at Sengoku 11, 12 and 13. The 34-year-old was a huge free agent signing for Bellator and immediately tabbed the tourney favorite. He backed it up tonight showing off a complete game. He thwarted every single takedown attempt by Malegarie and forced the Argentinian to stand and bang.

Malegarie (20-2) was no match on the feet. Sandro's head movement made him difficult to hit. The heavy-handed Sandro busted up Malegarie's right eye with an excellent jab. He also pounded Malegarie with left hooks following nasty uppercuts.

Curran (15-4) fought at a measured pace for 15 minutes and Ronnie Mann allowed him to do whatever he wanted. Mann (20-3) is a dangerous boxer, but he was on his horse throughout the first two rounds and did so predictably by constantly circling to his left.

Curran did most of his damage behind some solid jumping knees. The smaller Mann (5-foot-6 vs. 5-10) never found the range. Even after a tongue lashing from his trainer Shawn Tompkins before the third round, Mann failed to step on the gas in the final five minutes. Curran got the nod on the scorecards, 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27.

Bellator's featherweight champ Joe Warren was scheduled to fight on this card, but the bout was canceled when Patricio "Pitbull" Freire had to bow out with a hand injury. Warren also fights down at 135 pounds and is next scheduled to compete in the Bellator bantamweight tourney starting in September. At some point in the future Warren will have to face the Sandro-Curran winner.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Sandro-and-Curran-advance-to-Bellator-145-tourna?urn=mma-wp5005

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Antonio Rodrio Nogueira Says Chael Sonnen Is Not A Good Example Of MMA... And He's Right, Of Course

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a very well-spoken, well-respected MMA veteran. Widely praised as one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artists to ever step foot in both a ring and a cage, ?Big Nog? is bother a former PRIDE FC champion and a former UFC champion. Of course, Nogueira is only kind until he?s pushed. And [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/07/20/antonio-rodrio-nogueira-says-chael-sonnen-is-not-a-good-example-of-mma-and-hes-right-of-course

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Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Countdown Preview Show - Strikeforce

Fight Network previews Strikforce's heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers taking place on June 18, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.

Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-overeem-vs-werdum-countdown-preview-show-video_927471d83.html

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?Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson? Conference Call Highlights

Four of Strikeforce‘s top fighters including champions Dan Henderson and Marloes Coenen participated in a live conference call with media today telating to their upcoming bouts at “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson”. Also on hand were their opponents, Fedor Emelianenko and Miesha Tate respectively, as well as Strikeforce’s head-honcho Scott Coker. Five Ounces of Pain listened [...]

Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/07/21/strikeforce-fedor-vs-henderson-live-conference-call-highlights/

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