UWC rule #7-Maintain a positive relationship with the UFC. Foran has met Joe Silva, vice president of the UFC for talent relations who attended his DC show last April, and wants to stay on good terms with the juggernaut of MMA. Foran also hopes to catch the eye of Dana White one day in the near future. “I believe one of the reasons so many marquee names have been able to make appearances at UWC events is because we are not trying to threaten the UFC in anyway, we are actually promoting them, and it’s also because the UWC knows what their place is and wants to keep the lines of communication open. If you’re a small and talented Tech Company you don’t threaten Bill Gates and Microsoft, you work hard, do a good job, and build something of value and eventually you may get a tap on the shoulder. I don’t care what anyone says, without the UFC laying the ground work we aren’t sitting here having this conversation and I’m not getting the opportunity to be a part of MMA history”, said Foran. Foran has no grandiose plans of conquering the UFC and is perfectly content with his position as regional show and whatever else the future brings.
“We’re not competition for the UFC. We’re not even thinking about it,” he says. “My goal in MMA is to be a positive and productive part of this great sport. MMA is still a young sport, but it’s growing exponentially and money is not the only thing that’s going to make you successful. I look at the people who are doing the best and try to follow their example and learn from the mistakes they made. Without naming names I would like to give a special thanks to all those that showed us what not to do.”

The people who are doing the best (and don’t have the letter U in their moniker) are Scott Coker’s Strikeforce and Matt Lindland’s Sportfight. Sportfight is the best show in the Pacific Northwest and is widely regarded as one of the best in the country at showcasing regional talent. Scott Coker’s Strikeforce is also highly respected and has earned praise from Dana White and Foran himself.
“Everyone who comes [to the UWC] leaves feeling like it was worth coming and wants to come back. Strikeforce is like that. They’re the only ones with real longevity because they’ve taken their time and built their organization correctly.”
Like Foran, Coker just wants to put on a good show, has a network deal, and uses creative marketing to get his organization the exposure it needs (MMA at the Playboy mansion-brilliant!). Strikeforce pioneered the tactic of showcasing local talent and recognizable names, but there are some differences. Strikeforce has had more frequent shows-sixteen in two years versus four in a year for the UWC-and has bigger attendance numbers, though that can be attributed more to market demographics than anything (San Jose has a larger MMA fanbase to draw from than the DC area). Strikeforce has also hosted MMA tournaments, which the UWC doesn’t have any plans for as of this article.
MMA fans on the west coast have a veritable smorgasboard of events to choose from. Those of us on the east coast-not so much. The UFC has only visited this side of the Mississippi twice in the last three and a half years. While Cali is rolling in UFC, WEC, and Strikeforce action, we get…the Yamma Pit. The UWC is filling the void for those of us stuck in the first time zone of the day and though it’s a risky venture in today’s economy, Marcello Foran isn’t worried.
“It may be more of a risk to start from ground zero and build an MMA show and build stars of that show, but if it works, then it will make us much more viable and credible.”
In a day when so many promotions fail, the UWC has a sound base, a long-term vision, decent funding, and best of all no pretension. It’s easily the best MMA promotion in the mid-Atlantic coast region and possibly all of the eastern US. For a guy who’s clearly as passionate about MMA as Marcello Foran, I can forgive his tardiness.

For more information on UWC, S Marcello Foran, and UltimateVIP International log on to www.uwcmma.com and www.2BVIP.com

Kelly Crigger is a freelance MMA writer and author of the book "Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts" which you can purchase by clicking here. Contact him through his website at IntoTheSharkTank.com