Data Validates Fight Deals

Audie Attar, founder of Paradigm Sports Management and co-founder of Proper 12 whiskey, shares insights about how data and market response drive major decisions in combat sports deals and brand building.

Key Points:

• Deal Making in Combat Sports:

  • Use social media engagement and market response to validate opportunities
  • Look at analytics and fan interest to justify unconventional matchups
  • The Mayweather-McGregor fight became viable because the data showed intense public interest

• Building Ventures Around Athletes:

  • Must align organically with the athlete's genuine interests
  • Need substantive products/brands, not just celebrity endorsements
  • Require understanding the market, players, and disruption opportunities
  • Need "black belts" (industry experts) to help operate the business

• Platform Risk Management:

  • Understand inherent risks with controversial personalities
  • Look at track record and actual results over accusations
  • Partners need to understand the brand they're getting involved with
  • Build beyond single personalities to create sustainable platforms

• Business Development Strategy:

  • Research and prepare detailed plans but stay fluid
  • Be ready for long-term challenges ("eat shit sandwiches daily")
  • Build experienced teams around you to accelerate growth
  • Don't stop innovating and creating new aligned opportunities
  • Focus on execution over just having dreams/visions

• Deal Structure Lessons:

  • Structure deals to maintain ongoing revenue streams
  • Consider both immediate and long-term value creation
  • Be willing to put up initial capital for bigger long-term returns
  • Look for strategic partners who bring operational expertise

• On Success:

  • Reinvest in the business and team
  • Stay grounded despite major financial wins
  • New challenges emerge with success ("more money, more problems")
  • Need to manage unappreciative people and inflated expectations