When Ariel Helwani tipped fans off about Hunter Campbell's behind-the-scenes contribution: "It's very rare that [Dana White] is on the frontlines"
Ariel Helwani once weighed in on the significant clandestine role Hunter Campbell plays in the day-to-day operations of the UFC. The chief business officer of UFC plays a pivotal role in the functioning of the MMA promotion and is frequently mentioned in discussions, particularly those concerning legal matters related to the company.
Despite Dana White's longstanding status as the face of the organization, his name inseparable from the UFC brand, many perceive the UFC CEO as the sole authority behind every major decision, although this may not entirely be the case, as suggested by the veteran MMA journalist.
During an episode of The MMA Hour in June 2022, Helwani revealed that White rarely delves into the intricate details of matchmaking. Instead, vice president of talent relations Mick Maynard primarily manages matchmaking for the heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight divisions. Meanwhile, UFC chief matchmaker Sean Shelby oversees the remaining divisions, including all women's categories.
Helwani further disclosed that among all the matchmakers, it is Campbell who handles the negotiations, particularly for high-profile fights:
"The one who is probably involved the most, especially in the big fights, is Hunter. Hunter Campbell is the one doing the negotiations. He's the one really on the phone lines, especially for the big fights. Like the Nate Diaz situation, you know, the Jon Jones and Stipe [Miocic] – all of that is Hunter. It's very, very rare that Dana gets involved in the negotiations. It's very rare that he's [White] on the frontlines getting his hands dirty."
Check out Ariel Helwani's comments below (1:37):
Recently, Campbell has been making headlines due to the new Roku series 'Fight Inc: Inside the UFC'. In the show, he is seen conversing with and seemingly persuading former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling not to withdraw from his title fight against Sean O'Malley at UFC 292 last August.
Check out the conversation between Hunter Campbell and Aljamain Sterling below:
How long has Hunter Campbell served in the UFC?
According to Hunter Campbell's LinkedIn profile, he has been serving as the chief business officer of the UFC since April 2019. Prior to this role, he was the company's executive vice president. However, his tenure as EVP concluded after the MMA promotion's parent company, Endeavor Group Holdings, merged the UFC and WWE into the combat sports conglomerate, TKO Group.
Before assuming his current role, Campbell served as the UFC's chief legal officer, having joined the organization in 2017. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Washington University, a JD from the University of Nevada, and a Master of Science from Columbia University.