January 4, 2024 8:30 pm ET
In 2013, MMA Junkie, with the backing of the USA Today mothership, put out a specialty magazine.
MMA Junkie’s “Power” issue was our look, in the middle of that year, at the most influential people in the sport.
The cover featured Jon Jones, then the UFC’s new light heavyweight champion and now its current heavyweight titleholder, most prominently and in the center. Surrounding him were Ronda Rousey, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Dana White. And even though only Jones and White are left as active MMA figures, the other three names still carry much weight in the game 10 years later.
But what about the rest of the people who were what we considered the biggest names in the sport 10 years ago? Where are they now?
Here’s a look back at the most influential from our “Power” issue from mid-2013.
Honorable Mentions
Cain Velasquez, right, appears for his arraignment with attorney Edward Sousa, who appeared with him, at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. Velasquez, the former UFC champion based out of San Jose, was charged with shooting at a man accused of molesting his child. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group via AP, Pool) ORG XMIT: CAJOS103
Jose Aldo
Then: UFC featherweight champion
Now: Retired, UFC Hall of Famer
Kenny Florian
Then: Retired UFC fighter … commentator/host
Now: PFL commentator/podcast host
Nick Lembo
Then: New Jersey commission legal counsel
Now: Same
John McCarthy
Then: Referee
Now: Analyst/host
Andre Pederneiras
Then: Trainer/manager
Now: Same
Glenn Robinson
Then: Blackzilians team owner/manager
Now: Robinson died of a heart attack in September 2018
Cain Velasquez
Then: UFC heavyweight champion
Now: Velasquez is out on bail and awaiting trial on charges including attempted murder for allegedly opening fire on a truck that held a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s young son
Marshall Zelaznik
Then: UFC head of U.K. operations
Now: Zelaznik left the UFC in 2016 and now is the CEO of Esports Engine
25. Ariel Helwani
Ariel Helwani
Then: MMA reporter/insider/host
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Helwani would be on 2024 most influential list: -150
24. Urijah Faber
Urijah Faber UFC 295 ceremonial weigh-ins
Then: Fighter, Trainer, Author, Clothing Designer
Now: Same, but retired from fighting
Unofficial odds Faber would be on 2024 most influential list: +500
23. Mike Mossholder
Then: UFC senior VP of Global Marketing Partnerships
Now: Chief marketing and revenue officer at Fiume Capital in Las Vegas
Unofficial odds Mossholder would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
22. Victor Cui
Victor Cui
Then: ONE Fighting Championship CEO/owner
Now: Cui was president and CEO of the Edmonton Elks from 2022 until this past August
Unofficial odds Cui would be on 2024 most influential list: +800
21. Malki Kawa
Malki Kawa
Then: First Round Management CEO
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Kawa would be on 2024 most influential list: +300
20. Greg Jackson
FILE – In this Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, Greg Jackson, co-owner of Jackson Wink MMA Academy, stands above his training facility in Albuquerque, N.M. Jackson Wink MMA Academy, the storied mixed martial arts gym that has trained UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, said Friday, March 13, 2020, it’s adjusting its training amid rising cases of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File) ORG XMIT: FX506
Then: MMA trainer/gym owner
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Jackson would be on 2024 most influential list: +300
19. Shannon Knapp
Hand out photo of Shannon Knapp, the former UFC executive who is helping turn Invicta into a moneymaker in women’s MMA. [Via MerlinFTP Drop]
Then: Invicta FC president/owner
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Knapp would be on 2024 most influential list: -150
18. Sam Caplan
Jun 19, 2013; Thackerville, OK, USA; Bellator chief executive officer Bjorn Rebney (right) poses for a portrait with matchmaker Sam Caplan (left) before the start of BFC 96 at the WinStar World Casino. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Then: Bellator VP of talent relations/matchmaker
Now: CEO, Brand Ambassador Consultants
Unofficial odds Caplan would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
17. Ed Soares
Ed Soares
Then: Manager/promoter
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Soares would be on 2024 most influential list: +300
16. Ike Lawrence Epstein and Michael Mersch
Lawrence Epstein
Then: UFC COO, UFC Senior VP of Legal Affairs
Now: Epstein: Same; Mersch: Owner of Mersch Sports Consulting and Government Affairs
Unofficial odds Epstein and Mersch would be on 2024 most influential list: Epstein -300; Mersch +300
15. Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen
Then: UFC fighter/host/analyst
Now: Retired fighter, host/analyst
Unofficial odds Sonnen would be on 2024 most influential list: +150
14. Keith Kizer
Then: Nevada Athletic Commission director
Now: Kizer retired in 2018
Unofficial odds Kizer would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
13. Mark Cuban and Andrew Simon
Then: AXS TV CEO, AXS TV Fights CEO
Now: Cuban remains one of the most successful businessmen in the world, but is out of the MMA game; Simon is the president and CEO of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas
Unofficial odds Cuban and Simon would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
12. Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan
Then: UFC analyst
Now: Same, but with a bigger podcast bump and fewer actual UFC events
Unofficial odds Rogan would be on 2024 most influential list: -500
11. Craig Piligian
Then: Pilgrim Films president, “TUF” producer
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Piligian would be on 2024 most influential list: +300
10. Ronda Rousey
Jan 29, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; Ronda Rousey celebrates after winning the women’s Royal Rumble match during the Royal Rumble at The Dome at America’s Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Then: UFC women’s bantamweight champion
Now: WWE Superstar, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer
Unofficial odds Rousey would be on 2024 most influential list: +125
9. Kevin Kay, Jon Slusser
Then: Spike TV president, Spike TV senior VP for sports
Now: Kay remains a TV executive; Slusser owns The Famous Group
Unofficial odds Kay and Slusser would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
8. Marc Ratner
Marc Ratner
Then: UFC senior VP of regulatory affairs
Now: Same
Unofficial odds Ratner would be on 2024 most influential list: -200
7. Bjorn Rebney
Nov 2, 2013; Long Beach, CA, USA; Bellator chief executive officer Bjorn Rebney at the post fight press conference after the Bellator MMA fight night at the Long Beach Arena. Alvarez won the fight. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Then: Bellator founder/CEO
Now: The running joke for years has been wondering where Rebney is. But according to LinkedIn, he’s the CEO and founder of MIH Sports Entertainment in California.
Unofficial odds Rebney would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
6. Jon Jones
Jon Jones
Then: UFC light heavyweight champion
Now: UFC heavyweight champion
Unofficial odds Jones would be on 2024 most influential list: -500
5. Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre
Then: UFC welterweight champion
Now: Former UFC middleweight and welterweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer
Unofficial odds St-Pierre would be on 2024 most influential list: +150
4. Eric Shanks and Randy Freer
Then: FOX Sports co-presidents and COOs
Now: Shanks remains with FOX Sports; Freer still is in the TV world with his own company, plus co-chair of Global Catalyst Holdings. But both effectively are out of the MMA world.
Unofficial odds Shanks and Freer would be on 2024 most influential list: +1000
3. Anderson Silva
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 13: Anderson SIlva speaks during a Jake Paul v Anderson Silva press conference at Gila River Arena on September 13, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Then: Former UFC middleweight champion
Now: Boxer, former UFC middleweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer
Unofficial odds Silva would be on 2024 most influential list: +200
2. Joe Silva and Sean Shelby
Joe Silva and Sean Shelby, 2013
Then: UFC matchmakers
Now: Silva is retired; Shelby is the UFC’s head matchmaker focusing on lighter weight classes and women’s divisions
Unofficial odds Silva and Shelby would be on 2024 most influential list: Silva +800, Shelby -1000
1. Dana White
DALLAS, TEXAS – JULY 29: Dana White attends the UFC 277 ceremonial weigh-in at American Airlines Center on July 29, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Then: UFC president
Now: UFC CEO
Unofficial odds White would be on 2024 most influential list: -10,000
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