Ryan Rapaport interviews Ian Butler, a former Bellator fighter, grappler, and founder of Silverback Wrestling Club, discussing his journey from humble beginnings in St. Louis to building a national wrestling brand. Ian shares insights on scaling a business while maintaining core values, securing sponsorships, and creating opportunities for underprivileged kids, as well as his plans for international expansion in 2025. Follow Ian on Instagram @ianbutlermma https://www.instagram.com/ianbutlermma/ Check out Silverback Wrestling at silverbackwrestling.com Follow @silverbackwrestling on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/silverbackwrestling/ Takeaways ・ Ian founded Silverback Wrestling Club with just four students and grew it into a national brand. ・ Core values like love for the sport and community drive the club’s success. ・ Sponsorships began with small, local businesses and scaled alongside his career. ・ Silverback aims to make wrestling accessible to underprivileged kids. ・ Plans are in place for international expansion, including a European seminar tour. ・ Ian emphasizes balancing business, coaching, and athletic roles. ・ Building partnerships with smaller gyms can boost visibility and community support. ・ Digital platforms will play a big role in scaling Silverback's reach in the future. ・ Wrestlers transitioning to MMA should start with jiu-jitsu or boxing for a smoother adjustment. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ian Butler and Silverback Wrestling 02:17 Building Silverback from the Ground Up 03:44 Securing Sponsorships and Brand Partnerships 07:09 St. Louis Roots and Expanding Internationally 08:44 Balancing Business Goals with Social Impact 11:16 Transitioning from Athlete to Business Leader 13:08 Leveraging Polaris for Global Reach 15:24 Scaling Through Online Platforms and Virtual Training 16:30 Advice for Wrestlers Transitioning to Combat Sports 19:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans for 2025
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