3<\/p>\n Brady has attended several UFC events over the years, and fans are now putting two and two togetherCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Although some MMA enthusiasts have known for a while, other fans are only just finding out that Brady is the first cousin of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.<\/p>\n Shelby has helped White build the MMA promotion into a billion-dollar business since the day he joined in 2002.<\/p>\n He was promoted to senior vice president of talent relations in September 2016 when veteran MMA executive Mick Maynard joined the company to help with organising bouts.<\/p>\n Some of the pair’s other responsibilities include developing talent and negotiating with fighters, before liaising with White and UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell to make the final call.<\/p>\n READ MORE ON TOM BRADY<\/p>\n According to MMA Junkie, Shelby runs the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight divisions as lead matchmaker.<\/p>\n Tom Brady reveals Sean Shelby relation during live stream<\/p>\n Knowledge of Brady’s relation to Shelby has been out there for some time, but fans only picked up on it<\/a> when tuning in to the streaming platform Kick this week.<\/p>\n Brady appeared on a live stream with MMA influencer Nina Drama.<\/p>\n “Dana’s been a big supporter of mine over a long period of time. He’s from the north east, [and] a big [New England Patriots] fan,” Brady said, speaking about his connections to the UFC.<\/p>\n “My cousin, Sean Shelby, has worked with the UFC for over 20 years – that’s my boy, my first cousin, I love you so much, Sean.<\/p>\n “He’s done a great job working with Dana through the years, and I’m a huge UFC fan – love all those fighters.”<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Shelby, middle left, has watched UFC events with Brady from the front row, but some fans are only finding out they’re relatedCredit: GettyFans react to Brady and Shelby connection<\/p>\n Fans shared their shock at the connection between Brady and Shelby on social media.<\/p>\n One wrote on X: “Tom Brady and Sean Shelby being first cousins: Not on my bingo card.”<\/p>\n Another said: “Small world.”<\/p>\n A third added: “I\u2019m really blown away that Tom Brady is the cousin of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.”<\/p>\n Another wrote: “Sean Shelby is Tom Brady\u2019s cousin? HUH?”<\/p>\n While a fifth responded: “Crazy.”<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Brady is just as big a UFC fan as White is of Brady and the New England PatriotsCredit: Getty<\/p>\n Brady then named Jon Jones<\/a> and Khabib Nurmagomedov<\/a> as his greatest UFC fighters of all time while also stating his ‘love’ for former simultaneous champion Daniel Cormier<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 48-year-old bought a small stake in the UFC in 2016 as part of an investment group which included Serena Williams, Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg, The Weeknd, Calvin Harris and Sylvester Stallone.<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n According to ESPN, Brady and the other celebrities had been enlisted by WWE-IMG at a minimum investment of $250,000 each to help finance its $4billion acquisition of the UFC.<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/tom-brady-poses-photo-ufc-1046418277.jpg\")
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