How to Brand a Fighter…

As I get ready to watch the UFC fights tonight, I got thinking about the branding of fighters. Unfortunately, most fighters leave the branding up to the association they fight for. The problem with that is their are controlled by the association. They have no autonomy, and are very dependent on the whims of the association. (Sounds eerily similar to the corporate world).

The concept of developing a personal brand is vital to a fighters future. As the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts grows so does the need for a strong brand so that the fighters can carry more clout and not be locked in to one association.

So what does it take to brand a fighter…

Pick interesting fights. If you don’t pick fights that showcase your talent, you will never draw a following.
Be Seen. As Legendary Jazz Musician Art Blakey said, “if you aren’t appearing, you’re disappearing.” You have to utilize all the channels, the media, the web, parties, events, and any other place you can get close to fans, and people who can influence your career.
Learn new talents. There is more than one way to fight, and if you want to be a champion, you must expand your arsenal. Find new talents, examine your weakness, build on your already successful tools.
Don’t rely on the association. You must be able to stand on your own, don’t rely on the association to build you. They are interested in their own dime, not your career. If rising you up helps their association, then they will. Conversely, if driving you down helps, they will do that just as quickly.

PS. All this can be applied to any corporate employee, if you didn’t catch that.

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