Longtime PR exec Dave Sholler leaving UFC for NBA's Philadelphia 76ers

UFC Vice President of Public Relations, Athlete Marketing and Development – and sometimes Jon Anik-doppleganger – Dave Sholler is leaving the UFC.

UFC President Dana White revealed Sholler’s decision on Wednesday’s new edition of FS1’s “TUF Talk” when prompted about his feelings of longtime employees like matchmaker Joe Silva announcing their intentions to leave the company.

“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.

MMAjunkie today confirmed Sholler will leave the promotion following November’s landmark UFC 205 event, which takes place Nov. 12 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. He will be overseeing all communications on both the basketball and business side for the 76ers, who last claimed an NBA title in 1983.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me personally and professionally,” Sholler told MMAjunkie. “It gives me the chance to go home to work for an organization I grew up rooting for, an organization that I’m incredibly passionate about, and an organization I believe is going to add to its storied legacy in the coming years.”

A New Jersey native, Sholler joined former UFC owners Zuffa in 2009, heading up public relations for the WEC prior to the company’s merger with the sport’s largest MMA promotion. When the WEC’s talent was brought underneath the UFC’s umbrella, Sholler followed.

Over time, he would gain public prominence while hosting multiple UFC press conferences in place of White, though none would be more notable than the August 2014 pre-UFC 178 session where planned headliners Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier brawled on stage.

Sholler tried briefly – and unsuccessfully – to break the two pound-for-pound greats apart, though they would unfortunately toss him aside in the melee.

Despite his passion for the UFC, Sholler said the chance to bring his wife and daughters back to the East Coast proved too tempting to turn down.

“As the years have gone by, I’ve learned more and more that family is the most important thing in the world, period,” Sholler said. “To be able to raise my daughters back home on the East Coast surrounded by family is something I’m really fortunate to be able to do.

“My time at the UFC was nothing short of a dream come true. It’s an organization that believed in me and gave me the chance to succeed. From the early days traveling the globe with Pete Dropick, Reed Harris and characters like Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone promoting WEC, to today where athletes like Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor are true crossover stars, I’ve had such an incredible ride. But after such an incredible ride, I know it’s time. It’s time to go home.”

While the UFC’s recent $4 billion sale to WME-IMG has prompted several staffing changed, Sholler indicated his decision had nothing to do with the transaction.

“I’m still a huge believer in UFC and where this sport will go in the next 10 years,” Sholler said. “Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta are two of the most influential, inspiring people I’ve ever met. They took a chance on a South Jersey kid who just wanted to prove that he could make it. Dana and Lorenzo, along with great executives like Lawrence Epstein, Kirk Hendrick and Garry Cook, allowed me to play a part in making UFC one of the biggest sports in the world. And my 300-plus colleagues at UFC headquarters are the most dedicated, passionate and fearless people in the business.

“Simply put, the athletes I worked with at UFC and WEC will be lifelong friends and family. I’m so fortunate to have worked alongside the most dynamic athletes on the planet for as long as I did.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.