Marshall Zelaznik

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Marshall Zelaznik
Occupationsports executive

Marshall Zelaznik is an American sports industry executive.[1]

Biography[]

Having started his career as a lawyer,[2] Zelaznik eventually went in-house with pay-per-view television provider iN DEMAND as their vice president of programming before later accepting an offer of an executive role with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[3]

In his ten years as executive vice president and chief content officer for the UFC, Zelaznik oversaw the organization's pay-per-view and digital business and was also tasked with growing the organization's presence in markets outside of the United States. During his tenure the UFC opened up markets in the UK, Brazil,[4] Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, UAE, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Mexico.[5]

Zelaznik created the UFC's own in-house digital streaming platform Fight Pass, which Inc. credits with "helping build UFC's content business into one of the most widely-available sports properties in the world".[6] The UFC subsequently achieved a $4.025bn valuation - the largest-ever sports-industry acquisition, according to the New York Times[7] - when it was sold by Zuffa LLC to Endeavor.

In the wake of the buyout of Zuffa LLC, Zelaznik was released by the new owners and replaced by their own personnel.[8]

Zelaznik subsequently accepted a role as chief executive officer of the GLORY kickboxing organization.[9] On March 14, 2020 Internal Glory e-mails announced Zelaznik had resigned from Glory.

References[]

  1. ^ Shpigel, Ben (March 28, 2019). "Conor McGregor's Retirement and the U.F.C.'s Plan to Survive It" – via NYTimes.com.
  2. ^ "What I Like: Marshall Zelaznik, UFC". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com.
  3. ^ Staff, By Multi Channel News. "In Demand's Zelaznik Jumps to UFC". Multichannel.
  4. ^ Davies, Gareth A. (December 4, 2012). "Marshall Zelaznik: UFC in expert hands with new CEO Garry Cook" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  5. ^ Carroll, Peter (January 23, 2018). "Former UFC executive vice president Marshall Zelaznik appointed as GLORY CEO". MMA Fighting.
  6. ^ Heitner, Darren (February 28, 2017). "How a Former UFC Executive Found a New Role in E-Sports". Inc.com.
  7. ^ Merced, Michael J. de la (July 11, 2016). "U.F.C. Sells Itself for $4 Billion" – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ "UFC layoffs include executives Garry Cook, Marshall Zelaznik and UFC Asia chief Ken Berger". October 18, 2016.
  9. ^ "Marshall Zelaznik named CEO of Glory Sports International". www.sportspromedia.com.
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