Executive Profile: Ron Foster
May 22, 2009
(PRESS RELEASE) -- The fight business unlike any other
entertainment property is a mixed bag of aggressive personalities
all vying to beat each other into order, literally. Fighters crave
the adoration of fans for their combat prowess while promoters wish
to bless the world with the best matchups ever seen. Mastering the
balancing act of a fighter’s wants and a promoter’s need to sell
the best show is the matchmaker.
For debuting world-class mixed martial arts organization, Shine Fight Promotions (Shine Fights) this arduous task falls in the hands of matchmaker, Ron Foster. A fighter himself, Foster truly understands the mind of a combat specialist and does not shy away from one of the most underrated tasks in all of entertainment.
“When I talked to Dorian (Price) and Devin (Price) about taking
this job as a matchmaker I was really excited because I wanted to
be involved with the sport even if I wasn’t fighting just because I
enjoy the sport so much but I never ever thought it would be as
difficult as it is.”
Brainchild of The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 alumnus, Dorian Price and brother Devin Price, Ron Foster quickly learned that the job of matchmaker was a new wilderness where he was initially lost without a flashlight.
Unlike your average matchmakers, Ron Foster has dual combat experience. As an active duty member of the military and a professional mixed martial artist, Foster brings a deeper perspective to his crucial role. Starting in 1996, Foster’s first assignment was Camp Humphries in Korea for which he stayed one year. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia until 2000 and then to Honolulu, Hawaii from 2001-2004. Immediately after he was shipped to Kandahar, Afghanistan from 2004-2005 until he came to Fort Belwar in Northern Virginia. However, it was his time in Hawaii that left the biggest impact on Foster’s fighting life.
“One day I went to a club downtown in Honolulu called Gussie Lemoore where amateur fights were being held and that’s when I met the guys from 808 Fight Factory. From there I fought and I did really well. The next thing you know I was training with Ronald Jhun, Harris Sarmiento and all those guys and from that point I’ve been really into this.”
After two professional fights, both being the first and second MMA matches in Washington, D.C. since regulation has been in place in the District, Foster stands at a crossroads. With both fights resulting in losses, Foster is starting to settle in a new role outside of the cage.
“Its really tough on my family the amount of training you have to do to be pro is really difficult. I lost my first fights but there are plenty of guys that I can go out there and just beat up but I wanted tough guys. I really wanted to test myself and you know I came up on the short end of the stick but I don’t regret it at all. I wanted to get in there with tough guys but unfortunately it just didn’t work out in my favor.”
On the eve of Shine Fights: Genesis there have been many highs and more lows in the daily repertoire of its chief fight maker. With the support of some MMA industry veterans, Foster has been able to settle into his role a little easier.
“Marc Fiore of H.I.T. Squad this guy sat down with me and really helped me out even when he didn’t have anything to gain the guy will pick up the phone and say, ‘Ron you need to make sure you’re doing this and doing and doing that,’ Marc Fiore has been a huge asset to Shine Fights. Fernando (Yamasaki) has been to and also Rick McCoy has bent over backwards for us. Those are guys that we will work with forever.”
With the sweet also comes the bitter taste of unprofessionalism in a sport where records boost profiles and fighters are desperate for larger “shine.”
“One guy specifically, Luke Zachrich, a very talented fighter, who has a little following and was on The Ultimate Fighter; the guy has potential to be a great fighter is unwilling to take tough fights. He knew who his opponent was (Marcus Reynolds), he waited until he got on the billboards, he waited until he got on the commercial, he waited until he was on the poster and all of that and then he turns around and says, ‘the guy who you have for me he’s too tough and I don’t want to blow my chance at going back into the UFC; if I lose then I’m not going back into the UFC.’ We’re trying to put on competitive fights with guys that are equally matched and unfortunately for fighters like Luke Zachrich who want ‘gimme fights’ you are not going to get that from our organization.”
As the day draws nigh that Shine will make its debut on the world stage Foster is solid in his resolve to provide quality entertainment for the masses. With a real sense of what’s good for the sport and a healthy foundation, Foster hopes to guide Shine Fight cards into greater pastures far into the future.
“We want to catch the attention of not just the hardcore MMA fan but the guys that are new into MMA and they just want to see good fights and that’s all we’re about: bringing quality fights and quality shows and bringing it to folks that might not have really had that before. We want to have the most competitive fights, the best fights. We’re trying to get the best fighters that we can possibly get. We’re competing with ourselves. Our next show I’m competing to make it better than our first show so every show that we’ll have will be better. We’ll continue to grow, we’ll continue to get better fighters and we’re going to be around for a long time.”
For debuting world-class mixed martial arts organization, Shine Fight Promotions (Shine Fights) this arduous task falls in the hands of matchmaker, Ron Foster. A fighter himself, Foster truly understands the mind of a combat specialist and does not shy away from one of the most underrated tasks in all of entertainment.
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Brainchild of The Ultimate Fighter Season 6 alumnus, Dorian Price and brother Devin Price, Ron Foster quickly learned that the job of matchmaker was a new wilderness where he was initially lost without a flashlight.
“When we started putting this fight card together, no lie, I sat up
looking on the Internet for gyms, calling and asking if they had
guys who wanted to fight. I didn’t want to just go with local guys
I wanted recognizable gyms with recognizable names because we are a
serious organization unlike others who get guys who don’t have any
experience or talent. As a new promotion in the beginning it was
difficult because people have never heard of us. They didn’t know
anything about us all they know is, ‘who is this guy calling Xtreme
Couture for fighters?’ or ‘who is this guy calling H.I.T. Squad or
American Top Team looking for fighters?’ That’s how we were
received at first but after 2-3 months we have over 200 fighters
wanting to get on our next card.”
Unlike your average matchmakers, Ron Foster has dual combat experience. As an active duty member of the military and a professional mixed martial artist, Foster brings a deeper perspective to his crucial role. Starting in 1996, Foster’s first assignment was Camp Humphries in Korea for which he stayed one year. From there he went to Fort Benning, Georgia until 2000 and then to Honolulu, Hawaii from 2001-2004. Immediately after he was shipped to Kandahar, Afghanistan from 2004-2005 until he came to Fort Belwar in Northern Virginia. However, it was his time in Hawaii that left the biggest impact on Foster’s fighting life.
“One day I went to a club downtown in Honolulu called Gussie Lemoore where amateur fights were being held and that’s when I met the guys from 808 Fight Factory. From there I fought and I did really well. The next thing you know I was training with Ronald Jhun, Harris Sarmiento and all those guys and from that point I’ve been really into this.”
After two professional fights, both being the first and second MMA matches in Washington, D.C. since regulation has been in place in the District, Foster stands at a crossroads. With both fights resulting in losses, Foster is starting to settle in a new role outside of the cage.
“Its really tough on my family the amount of training you have to do to be pro is really difficult. I lost my first fights but there are plenty of guys that I can go out there and just beat up but I wanted tough guys. I really wanted to test myself and you know I came up on the short end of the stick but I don’t regret it at all. I wanted to get in there with tough guys but unfortunately it just didn’t work out in my favor.”
On the eve of Shine Fights: Genesis there have been many highs and more lows in the daily repertoire of its chief fight maker. With the support of some MMA industry veterans, Foster has been able to settle into his role a little easier.
“Marc Fiore of H.I.T. Squad this guy sat down with me and really helped me out even when he didn’t have anything to gain the guy will pick up the phone and say, ‘Ron you need to make sure you’re doing this and doing and doing that,’ Marc Fiore has been a huge asset to Shine Fights. Fernando (Yamasaki) has been to and also Rick McCoy has bent over backwards for us. Those are guys that we will work with forever.”
With the sweet also comes the bitter taste of unprofessionalism in a sport where records boost profiles and fighters are desperate for larger “shine.”
“One guy specifically, Luke Zachrich, a very talented fighter, who has a little following and was on The Ultimate Fighter; the guy has potential to be a great fighter is unwilling to take tough fights. He knew who his opponent was (Marcus Reynolds), he waited until he got on the billboards, he waited until he got on the commercial, he waited until he was on the poster and all of that and then he turns around and says, ‘the guy who you have for me he’s too tough and I don’t want to blow my chance at going back into the UFC; if I lose then I’m not going back into the UFC.’ We’re trying to put on competitive fights with guys that are equally matched and unfortunately for fighters like Luke Zachrich who want ‘gimme fights’ you are not going to get that from our organization.”
As the day draws nigh that Shine will make its debut on the world stage Foster is solid in his resolve to provide quality entertainment for the masses. With a real sense of what’s good for the sport and a healthy foundation, Foster hopes to guide Shine Fight cards into greater pastures far into the future.
“We want to catch the attention of not just the hardcore MMA fan but the guys that are new into MMA and they just want to see good fights and that’s all we’re about: bringing quality fights and quality shows and bringing it to folks that might not have really had that before. We want to have the most competitive fights, the best fights. We’re trying to get the best fighters that we can possibly get. We’re competing with ourselves. Our next show I’m competing to make it better than our first show so every show that we’ll have will be better. We’ll continue to grow, we’ll continue to get better fighters and we’re going to be around for a long time.”
