Authentic Sports Management and First Round Management merged in February 2011, making them a major player in the MMA world, but the short-lived partnership is already over.
In a joint statement, the company announced that manager Malki Kawa would be leaving Authentic to resume operation of his First Round brand, and taking several of his key clients with him. Among them: the current UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Interestingly, Jones had been under the same management umbrella as his onetime friend but current rival, former UFC champ Rashad Evans. Evans, however, has chosen to stay on with Authentic, which will continue to be led by Glenn Robinson.