Joe Silva, one of the integral figures behind the scenes at the UFC, will leave the company before the end of 2016.
Silva, who is the longtime matchmaker and Vice President of Talent Relations for the Las Vegas-based fight promotion, has informed the company of his intentions to leave. This comes in the wake of the sale of the Las Vegas-based fight promotion to Hollywood talent agency WME-IMG.
The UFC have yet to release an official comment but it's very likely that Silva's absense will be felt greatly. He had been with the company for more than 21 years and pre-dates the UFC's sale to Zuffa in 2001.
Reports of matchmaker Joe Silva planning UFC exit are true, from what I'm told. No direct confirmation from Joe, but I'm told he's retiring.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 31, 2016
Silva's reputation as a matchmaker is stellar. He is responsible for booking some of the UFC's most legendary fights and signing a host of fighters who would go on to become household names in the fight game.
It remains to be seen if the UFC are in the market for a direct replacement, or if the UFC's secondary matchmaker Sean Shelby - who currently oversees the lighter weight classes and the women's divisions - will pick up the slack. Shelby arrived at the company during the UFC's merge with the WEC in 2010.
It is unlikely that Silva will take up a job offer with any competing organisation, with reports suggesting he intends to retire from the sport completely to spend more time with his family.
