UFC announces signing of Maynard as VP of Talent Relations

The long-rumored UFC hiring of Legacy Fighting Championship president and owner Mick Maynard is official.

Maynard is signing on as vice president of talent relations, the promotion announced Tuesday. In addition, Sean Shelby has been promoted to senior vice president of talent relations.

The two are expected to oversee the handling of fighter development, scouting, and matchmaking, with longtime UFC official Joe Silva set to retire at the end of 2016.

"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," said UFC president Dana White. "He left his mark on this sport and I wish him nothing but success in retirement.

"I'm excited to have Mick on board working alongside Sean. Mick has become one of the most respected people in the fight game and he's done a great job in finding and developing talent. Sean has been a tremendous asset to the UFC for a long time, and I look forward to working with Sean and Mick in the years to come."

Silva was best known to the public as the head matchmaker of the UFC, a role that he split with Shelby as the UFC integrated more divisions over the past six years. Shelby was primarily responsible for booking the 145-pound class and below, as well as the two women's divisions. It is not known if Shelby and Maynard will have a similar working arrangement.

As the driving force behind the LFC, Maynard established one of the most successful regional promotions in the U.S. Former women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo are just two of the notable fighters that passed through the LFC before moving on to UFC glory.

Maynard's departure from the LFC coincides with the promotion merging with the Resurrection Fighting Alliance on Monday to form the Legacy Fighting Alliance.