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A Day In The Life: UFC Senior VP/Global Partnerships Paul Asencio

UFC Senior VP/Global Partnerships PAUL ASENCIO leads the fighting promotion’s sales and activations team, and his day-to-day routine always keeps him on the move. He often finds himself taking calls with UFC execs on the other side of the world as he heads to work out before the sun comes up. Then, whether it’s making new connections at N.Y.’s best lunch spots or entertaining clients at one of the Big Apple’s endless sporting events, Asencio doesn’t see much down time. Asencio lives in Floral Park on Long Island, but during a recent stop in UFC’s Las Vegas office, he chatted with THE DAILY about his daily routine on the East Coast and how he makes the most out of his time.

4:30am: On days that I did not have a dinner or anything the night before, I wake up super early.

5:00am: I’m obsessed with CrossFit and take a class at Crossfit Garden City.

6:30am: I get back home and am immediately checking emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages because I’ve got folks in the U.K that have already started their day. Sometimes when I’m driving back from the gym I will get on a phone call with UFC VP/Global Partnerships NICK SMITH, who is based in Australia, because of the time difference. That gives he and I a good time to catch up. UFC CFO ANDREW SCHLEIMER, I don’t think that man sleeps. There are times when I am up 5:00 and I’m already getting text messages from him. I have three daughters. ISABELLA is in college, the other two are home. OLIVIA is a junior in high school, MIA is in eighth grade. I end up seeing them very briefly in the morning as they head off to school.

7:50am: My wife HEATHER drops me off at the Long Island Rail Road and I catch a train into the city. What’s nice about taking the train is I am able to check on emails or make a call or two if I have to. It’s good to be able to respond whenever necessary.

8:45am: Before I get in to our Endeavor offices on 23rd & Park Ave., I grab a bacon and egg sandwich from this place we call the Dirty Deli. It's just your typical NYC deli where they make your sandwich in two minutes. It’s exactly what you would expect. I’m a huge Barstool Sports guy, so as I eat breakfast I may scroll though and catch up on what they’ve got cooking.

9:00am: I typically have a variety of different things going on, whether it's update meetings within the sponsorship group of Endeavor, calls with my staff when folks in Las Vegas start waking up, calls with ESPN touching on deals with them, and client calls.

Asencio enjoys catching up on what Barstool Sports is reporting on during the morningPAUL ASENCIO

12:00pm: At least twice a week I like to set up a lunch with a prospect, existing partner, agency, or co-worker where we’ll go out and grab a quick bite to eat and catch up with a bunch of different people. Hillstone is a great spot that’s really easy for us, it’s right down the street on Park Ave. Upland is an awesome lunch spot. I’ve only been there a couple times but I absolutely have to add that into my rotation.

1:00pm: I’ll get back to the office and my afternoon will be a variety of different update meetings or conference calls.

5:30pm: I usually try to take a train home.

6:30pm: I can spend some time with my family. My wife and I love to watch TV together. We have dinner as a family and then my kids will be doing their homework or running around, and we’ll use that time to catch up on shows. We love “RAY DONOVAN,” “THIS IS US,” "SHAMELESS” and just started watching “OZARK.” If I’m going out for dinner, I love Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse. I’ve been going there since my days with the Mets. I also love Tao. 

8:00pm: My phone will start ringing again from Las Vegas, touching base with folks in the Vegas office at the end of the day, following up on emails or conversations that we may be having with a partner or an event. Nick Smith in Australia will be awake again. He and I are either talking super early in the morning or late at night.

10:00pm: I like to be in bed and go to sleep if I’m waking up early. What could be different is if I have a client dinner or an event or I’m going to a sporting event just to network or entertain, in which case I’m not waking up at 4:30am.

Know of someone who should be featured in "A Day in the Life"? Send a note to jcarpenter@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

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