MMA Manager Glenn Robinson Builds His Roster Around Family, Not Fame

It’s not easy to get Glenn Robinson to open up and talk about what he’s accomplished in MMA.

The owner and head of Authentic Sports Management, one of the top management groups in MMA, doesn’t do a lot of interviews, and he’s very tight lipped when asked details about what he’s done to build one of the most successful stables of fighters in the sport.

Robinson founded Authentic Sports Management and immediately began adding a roster of fighters that including former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, as well as names like Jorge Santiago and Danillo Villefort.

Since 2010 when he founded the company, Robinson has added a laundry list of names to his client list, as well as purchasing Jaco clothing, and helping to found the Jaco Training Center which serves as home to the Blackzilian camp of fighters.

In a world of management where fighters sometimes move around like checkers on a board, Robinson has maintained a loyalty with his fighters, and they to him, like few have been able to ever do in MMA.

“I never really looked at it as trying to conquer the world or conquer MMA, I always just looked at it as work to try and take care of the guys,” Robinson told MMAWeekly.com. “So my goal was just to make sure we have a great group of guys that were really striving to accomplish great things.”

Robinson has now been nominated for “Best Management Nationwide” in his home state as part of the Florida MMA awards, but as much as anybody would like to win, and as much as he’s happy to be nominated, getting a gold trophy isn’t what motivates him.

Robinson’s motivation comes from helping his fighters become better competitors, and better, more successful people.

“I’m not perfect but I just do my best to listen to their needs and try to help them reach their goals, so I try not to let a day pass where I have not done something for everybody on the team in some way, shape or form,” said Robinson.

Whenever MMA management is brought up, there are several names that would be considered among the best in the business. One name that will likely live in history as the best ever is Midwestern based manager Monte Cox, who over the years built one of the most impressive roster of fighters the sport has ever known.

Cox managed champions and top contenders, but built his team around trust and treated them like family. Robinson has adapted that same philosophy all too well.

“It really is about family. When a fighter no longer feels like family, that’s probably when you’ll see a parting of the ways,” Robinson stated.

The Florida MMA Awards are special because they take aim at the best of the best from Robinson’s home state, and he’s not above admitting he’d like to win, but he’s already victorious in so many other ways that this would just be like the cherry on top.

“I’m very thankful that I was thought of, and someone thought to nominate me. It feels good to know the work you’re doing is appreciated,” said Robinson.

“I’ll be happier when my guys keep winning, and seeing Michael Johnson knock out Danny Castillo to me meant everything. Seeing Eddie Alvarez knock out Patricky (Pitbull) in Bellator, I had such a rough week that week and that made my whole week good. So every time I see my guys succeed, or even when they don’t succeed and I’m there to help them through it, I feel good about what I’m doing. It makes me feel like the mission is being accomplished.”

Photo credit: Ryan Loco