Kelsey Plum Serves On UFC Matching Committee
LOS ANGELES, CA — On Nov. 10, WNBA player Kelsey Plum served on the matchmaking committee for the UFC. She is the first non-UFC employee and first woman to be a part of the UFC matchmaking committee, setting up two fights.
The Las Vegas Aces guard is currently in the process of recovering from surgery that she got on her left Achilles heel. Plum decided to take on a new role in her time away from basketball.
“They try to match people up according to style,” said Chaye Alexander, a martial arts fighter. “What would make an interesting fight is a striker versus a grappler.”
Plum set up two fights last week as the UFC matchmaker. First, she helped set up a flyweight fight between Maycee Barber and Alexa Grasso. The Maycee Barber-Alexa Grasso fight is scheduled to take place on Feb. 13. Plum also helped the matchmaking committee set up a featherweight fight between Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. The Max Holloway-Calvin Hattar fight is scheduled to take place on Jan 16.
Plum’s achilles injury forced her to be a spectator of the Aces run to the WNBA finals. The Las Vegas Aces got swept by the Seattle Storm in the finals 3–0.
Plum is hoping to return to playing basketball in late January. She has been focused on getting back the explosive qualities that helped her break the all-time scoring record in NCAA Division I women’s basketball.
Kattar pushed back his gratitude to Plum and the rest of the people on the matchmaking team for the high-profile fight.
The matchmaking of Plum helps create an opportunity Kattar has been searching for the last 12 years. Kattar previously knocked out opponents in Salem, New Hampshire for the Combat Zone promotion.
Holloway is a former two-time featherweight champion. A win over an established fighter would immediately move up Kattar into a whole new level in the UFC.
Plum served on the UFC matchmaking committee with the UFC’s Hunter Campbell, Sean Shelby, and Mick Maynard.
By Alfonso Henry
Contributions from Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, UFC
Photo, Sports Illustrated
Audio, Alfonso Henry
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Pros and Cons of the UFC Ignoring Their Own Rankings When Matchmaking
