The UFC’s Vice President of Public Relations, Athlete Marketing and Development has taken a job with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Dave Sholler aka the man most likely to be confused with Jon Anik, is parting ways with the UFC. The company’s Vice President of Public Relations, Athlete Marketing and Development has taken a job with the Philadelphia 76ers after more than seven years with both the UFC and WEC combined.
Sholler first joined the Zuffa team in 2009, heading up the public relations department for the WEC, and continued his PR duties in a larger capacity when the organization was absorbed by the UFC in December of 2010. He’s been with MMA’s largest promotion through the Strikeforce purchase in 2011, the Fox deal (also in 2011), the Reebok sponsorship (2015), the USADA partnership (2015) and most recently, the record-breaking, $4B sale of the UFC to the WME/IMG Group this past July.
Known for heading up many press conferences, he is probably best remembered for being the man in the middle of the Number 1 and 2 light heavyweights in the world, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, when they had their infamous UFC 178 press conference brawl.
The official announcement came from Dana White via Wednesday night’s FS1 property, TUF Talk.
“Dave Sholler just announced that he’s leaving – another guy who I love and respect and loved working with – so yeah, it’s going to be different, but there’s a lot of good things going on,” White said.
Sholler confirmed the news with a series of Twitter posts, thanking the many well-wishers that immediately began tweeting at him, and informing his followers that UFC 205 would be his last event.
As Dana just announced on @FS1, I’m heading home. I’ve accepted a job w/ my hometown team, the @Sixers. This has been the ride of a lifetime
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016
It’s time to go home, to the organization I grew up rooting for. Will miss fight game very, very much, but excited for the new challenge.
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016
Thank you ALL for the kind words. Amazing. Truly. Thank you. I’m closing this chapter with one final event: #UFC205
— Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 13, 2016