The UFC announced Tuesday that Mick Maynard, longtime president of regional fight promotion Legacy Fighting Championship, has joined the company in a matchmaking role.
According to a release, Maynard's official title is vice president of talent relations. In addition to hiring Maynard, the UFC promoted Sean Shelby to senior vice president of talent relations.
The moves are in response to the pending retirement of longtime matchmaker Joe Silva. The UFC officially confirmed Silva plans to leave the company by the end of 2016, after more than 20 years of service with the UFC.
"Joe Silva's contributions to the UFC over the last 20 years were huge, and he played a big role in helping make the sport as big as it is today," UFC president Dana White said. "He left his mark on this sport and I wish him nothing but success in retirement."
Maynard, who accompanied White onto the weigh-in stage at UFC 203 this month in Cleveland, has been the owner and president of Houston-based LFC. The promotion has produced notable UFC talent Holly Holm and Sage Northcutt, among others.
In a recent announcement on "The MMA Hour," Ed Soares, owner of regional promotion RFA, revealed the two companies have merged into Legacy Fighting Alliance. Maynard's move into a UFC role likely contributed heavily to that development.
"This is an incredible opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to delivering the action-packed, exciting fights that UFC fans have come to expect," Maynard said.