- CAN'T TOUCH THIS: MC HAMMER STARTS MMA FIRM
Friday, July 30, 2010 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff
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Publicly, he may be most famous for his 1990 hit song “U Can’t Touch This” and for his Hammer Pants. But 48-year-old MC Hammer has launched a new offering, catapulting him onto the mixed martial arts scene.
Hammer’s Alchemist Management, based in Los Angeles, is a management, promotion, marketing, and brand-building firm for MMA fighters. Hammer is the company’s CEO and has named Lex McMahon as President and Nima Safapour as Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel.
“I’ve been a fan of combat sports for years,” said Hammer. “MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and this is a great opportunity for us to launch a full-service management company. Alchemist Management will leverage its relationships and resources for the benefit of fighters, the sponsors, and the industry at large.”
Alchemist Management will represent athletes who compete in UFC, Strikeforce, and other top MMA organizations. At launch, the company represents a variety of MMA talent, including Nate Marquardt, Tim Kennedy, Vladimir Matyushenko, Jorge Rivera, James McSweeney, Antoni Hardonk, Jared Hamman, Steve Magdaleno, Luke Stewart, and Alex Soto.
Hammer brings significant experience in top-tier sports and entertainment management to Alchemist. Prior to his celebrated musical career, he began his professional life in sports. Later, after achieving worldwide fame in the music industry, he returned to the sporting world and represented professional athletes in contract negotiations. In the 1990s, he managed Evander Holyfield when he became the world heavyweight boxing champion.
Hammer is joined by executives Lex McMahon and Nima Safapour who will oversee day-to-day operations and fighter management. McMahon is also the co-founder of Train the Troops MMA, an organization that facilitates the integration of MMA fighting techniques into active military units. Safapour previously served as the CEO of No Limits Media Group (NLMG), a sports management and consultancy firm.
