Biography
Campbell McLaren got his start in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) industry while a television producer for Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG). SEG produced entertainment content for pay-per-view. Seeking an outlet to take the "Gracie Challenge" concept to American television, Art Davie sent out videos of members of the famous Gracie family implementing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu against opponents skilled in other martial arts. Davie had met Rorion Gracie, became his student, and then his business partner in WOW Promotions. McLaren watched the videos, and enthusiastically mentioned them to his boss, SEG President Robert B. Meyrowitz.
Convinced by Campbell McLaren, Robert B. Meyrowitz and SEG partnered with WOW Promotions in creating the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. UFC was mostly owned by Art Davie and Rorion Gracie. Although there were rules for the first UFC event, UFC 1: The Beginning (1993), and the others thereafter, early marketing claimed "no rules" as a way to exploit the "no holds barred" concept. In helping to publicize UFC 2: No Way Out (1994), McLaren touted the possibility of death occurring during a fight. McLaren later expressed regrets for his part in exaggerating the graphic aspects of early UFC. The marketing material was later used by MMA opponents to help get it banned by American legislatures, and canceled on various pay-per-view services. McLaren produced several early UFC events, and then later left the company.
Campbell McLaren re-entered the MMA industry as an executive producer of Iron Ring (2008). It was a MMA competition show with a hip-hop theme, and lasted for one season. McLaren blamed the show's failure on the people involved not understanding MMA, and that his advice was ignored. Campbell specifically criticized Tip 'T.I.' Harris, who was one of the people in charge. In 2013, McLaren became Chief Executive Officer of Combate Americas (2014). McLaren created the promotion out of a feeling that Hispanic MMA fans were under-served. The program was produced in November and December of 2013. It debuted on Spanish channel MUN2 in February 2014. The episodes were primarily in Spanish accompanied by English subtitles. The series began with ten fighters, 5 featherweights (145 pounds) and 5 welterweights (170 pounds), out of about six-hundred applicants. The winners of their respective weight class would receive a contract to compete in Combate Americas (2014). The program featured appearances by kick-boxer Joseph Valtellini, MMA fighter Eddie Alvarez, and MMA legend Royce Gracie. Regular appearances were made by Daddy Yankee, who was previously a boxer with 5 professional bouts up until a shoulder injury.
In 2015, McLaren made a deal with Zuffa, owner of UFC, to carry Combate Americas events on its digital subscription service, Fight Pass. In a 2016 interview with Submission Radio, McLaren revealed that he and a group of investors tried to buy UFC. According to McLaren, the investment bankers and private equity firms he gathered offered $2.8 billion, but the company's Co-CEO,Lorenzo Fertitta, declined. Instead, McLaren continued with Combate Americas and made a deal for its events to be televised on Univision. In March 2021, McLaren signed a new television deal with Univision. The promotion was re-named Combate Global (2021), as the company sought athletes outside of Latin America and the United States.
