Unveiling the Card Collecting Journey of Eric Larson: Insights from the UFC Cardfather
- SLAB-Z
- Oct 8, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 16
Eric Larson, known as theufccardfather, is a veteran card collector with over 55 years of experience. Now 60 years old and based in Mexico City, he has transitioned from a dedicated hobbyist to an active card show vendor, specializing in UFC cards while also maintaining impressive collections of Game of Thrones and baseball cards.
His journey began in 1969, inspired by his father's love of baseball, leading to a remarkable collection of around 500,000 UFC cards. In this Q&A article, Eric shares insights into his most treasured items, memorable card show encounters, and his views on the current UFC card market. Join us as we uncover his invaluable advice for new collectors and the experiences that continue to fuel his passion for this captivating hobby.
What is the one item in your collection that best defines you, and why?
I think it’s a 2010 Leaf MMA quad auto 1/1 of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, and Brock Lesnar. The 2010 Leaf MMA set made six different quad autos, and I have five of the 1/1s from that series. These four icons of the sport are featured on an extraordinary card, even if it's not a licensed UFC product and i have owned that card for around 14 years now.
A close second is the 2014 1/1 Champions Nonograph, which i only acquired few weeks ago, featuring the autographs of nine champions from 2013, which is only available in a 1/1 from the 2014 Bloodlines. Among the greats on that booklet are Cain Velasquez, Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, and José Aldo, among others. And maybe something interesting about both of those two cards is that I would not have been able to own either of those without the help of two epic UFC card collectors.
Was there a specific moment or person in your life that sparked your collecting journey?
For sure. I started collecting because my dad was a big fan of baseball. I began collecting baseball cards in 1969 when I was five years old. My dad was my baseball coach, and we lived in Southern California. Our team played T-ball every Saturday, and Dad would always take me to 7-Eleven after the game for a Slurpee and a pack of baseball cards. I kept the hard plastic cups and coveted those baseball cards. I still have virtually all of those cards (some got traded, and some became ruined after being clipped onto my bike spokes).
After the baseball season was over, we would still go to 7-Eleven for Slurpees and cards, so I also collected basketball, football, and hockey cards for many years afterward. Those cards moved with me all over the place, from California to Virginia to Florida to Alabama to Mexico, to Miami, to Puerto Rico, and back to Mexico.
What was the first card show you ever worked on? When and where did it take place, and how was your experience?
It was the Dallas Card Show in September 2023. I had no clue what I was doing. I was in one of the smallest rooms because they did not have space for more vendors, but they gave me a table even though it was a late request. A buddy of mine helped me out, and I had a few great sales, which lit the fire to continue selling.
The experience of that event and the next show eventually changed my perspective on selling some of my cards, as I previously rarely sold any of my cards. Besides selling a few cards, I realized that many people who collected UFC had never seen the variety of early UFC cards at a card show before. Over time, card shows have become partly events to sell some cards and partly opportunities to show collectors unique cards that most have never seen, particularly those who have only recently started collecting.
I also partner with a Whatnot UFC singles seller named Cardsavants, which is another way to connect with the community and give them a chance to acquire some of the early rare cards as well.
Who has been your most memorable encounter at card shows, and what made that meeting special?
Really, there is no single card show that was the greatest encounter, so I will tell you about three stories.
At East Coast National, I met three collectors that I have known for around 15 years but had never spoken to or met. They came to see me at the show, and we had a chance to talk about the very early days of UFC collecting before any social media like Facebook and Instagram or Whatnot. These guys are legendary collectors I knew, but the only reason I got to meet them was that I started doing card shows and set up in New York at a big show, and they came over.
Recently, at the Burbank Card Show, a customer approached my table and we began chatting about cards and fighters. He asked if I had any Rousey cards, and I usually bring some great ones, including 1/1s and her rookie autographs. Then he asked if I had her Chrome autograph and mentioned that he was in the photo of that card. It turned out the guy is Edmond Tarverdyan, who owns Glendale Fighting Club. He was nice to talk to and shared some insights about his other fighters, including coaching Manny Gamburyan. I had a Manny 1/1 card with me from 2009, so I gave it to him to pass along to Manny, and five minutes later, he returned with Manny on FaceTime with us! It was surreal!
Perhaps the most important encounter at a show was earlier this year at the Burbank Show. At that time, I owned the 1/1 Josh Emmett rookie card and had been talking to a couple of people who wanted it. One of those guys was a big Emmett fan who suggested that maybe Josh would want it. To make a long story short, Josh came to the show to see me and buy that 1/1 card of his! We chatted for around 45 minutes, took a photo together, he autographed a card for me, and walked away with his 1/1 rookie. Amazing experience and a wonderful guy who took time to hang around with me and some buddies and took several photos with us.
What is the grail card you already have in your collection, or one that you are actively searching for?
I have a card in my collection that I did not really think was a grail card when I bought it in a private transaction, but it’s turned out to be the card most talked about that I have when I do card shows and when I post on IG. It’s a Joe Rogan autograph 1/1 from 2009 Upper Deck.
It turns out that Joe has never signed for Topps or Panini, and I think at this point we can't expect him to start signing UFC cards. He only had UFC cards for a few early series but has his rookie card in 2009 Round 1, and it’s become the hottest selling base card from that series! My Rogan auto is marked 1/1 and identifies him as a comedian. I heard a story that UD could not put "UFC announcer" on it because they did not have the license. And it appears no other base versions of the cut auto exist, and he has never signed for any other card product... making mine a true 1/1 rookie forever. I have the price on the card set at “???” and actually would love to sell it to Joe himself if I can find a way to get it in front of him, and then he would own the only one to ever exist!
Can you estimate the number of UFC cards you currently own?
Roughly 500,000.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the UFC card collector market?
I think it’s a great market that is doing well and getting ready to explode. It’s fantastic that the contract is back with Topps again. I believe they will do a great job with the products, and while nothing is as cheap as it was in the early days, their cards do seem to be more reasonable than those of the Panini era. Topps Knockout was just released and I have seen so many people comment how happy they are with the product. Going to open some of mine very soon!
This is an exciting time for the UFC as well. Recently, Dana White has been opening some packs of UFC cards with the president of Fanatics and made an Instagram post from the Fanatics Fest looking at UFC cards. He can help lift the profile of the cards, and I see the market expanding with new collectors all the time.
Recently, we (huskytabby on IG and myself) found a large collection of unopened UFC 2009 products, which have been opened on Instagram (with Steve Aoki!) and Whatnot by Chiken1of1, allowing many collectors to get some excellent early cards. The card community is growing, and some recent high-priced sales have been realized. Some sales have even occurred on Goldin, so the market continues to expand.
Which card eras and manufacturers are your favorites, and what is it about them that resonates with you?
I favor the early years of Topps, specifically 2009-2014. Those were the first years of collecting for me, and the products were cheap, yet limited in some cases. Additionally, those early years had cards of all the legends. I got to see and open products that probably only 5-10% of people collecting today have ever opened, including the first Finest products, the first KO product, Round 1 and 2, Leaf MMA, Bloodlines, etc.
What is your biggest regret in your collecting journey?
I don’t view anything I have done in my journey as a regret. I believe I have made a couple of glaring mistakes that, in hindsight, would have been nice to avoid. I overbid (and overpaid) on a couple of auctions that I won based on emotion instead of a clear thought process. Additionally, I did not buy enough of a couple of products, such as 2013 Bloodlines, which included Conor’s first autograph and the first two years of Chrome.
I probably overspent on a few lower-cost cases of overprinted products, such as 2010 Series 4. However, I always keep in mind that even some miscalculations can be fixed if you notice them quickly enough. Series 4 base cards are nearly worthless these days, with a couple of minor exceptions, but that series yielded great products, such as the Thoughts from the Boss dual autographs of legendary fights with Dana White, plus the Tale of the Tape relic cards featuring used hand tape from UFC fights. We need to be willing to accept some failures in our journey and find silver linings where possible.
Is there a card show that you have not yet attended but wish to travel to?
I want to attend the National as a vendor, people often ask me if I will set up there and I while I have not yet been approved since they always sell out. I would love to be in Chicago next year I would also love to set up at a show in the UK; there are lots of great collectors there who don’t get a chance to see much UFC in their shows.
What key advice would you offer to new collectors just beginning their journey?
If you are ready to be a hoarder, then buy cases and boxes, but always keep the financial cost in mind. Chasing super huge cards is a low-percentage game. There are only a few stories of people spending a little and hitting the lottery—many more stories involve people losing their savings searching for it by buying boxes or cases or getting into breaks and never finding the golden ticket.
If you want to collect a small number of fighters, buy individual cards you like and, if you can, concentrate on rookie cards, including autographs and low-numbered cards. Also, when possible, seek historical cards with a mat relic from an identified fight, particularly from a key fight in their career. Always research who else fought on the same fight card.
Most importantly, collect what you love. Collect what makes you happy.
Is there a question you feel we missed that you would like to address in this interview?
No.
As we conclude this engaging Q&A with Eric, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for his willingness to share his experiences and insights, especially before our site officially launched. Eric's journey through 55 years of card collecting is truly inspiring, and his stories about his treasured items, memorable encounters, and evolving perspectives on the market offer invaluable wisdom for collectors at all levels. We highly recommend you looking for Eric on his Instagram (@theufccardfather), where he shares his amazing UFC cards collection, and also updates for every card show he will attend!
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