Originally founded in 1993, today UFC was officially sold for a total of $4 Billion. With more than 40 live MMA events and a thriving global franchise, UFC is coming off one of its largest Pay-Per-View events to date. UFC 200, which rocked Las Vegas this past weekend showcased some of the biggest and brightest MMA fighters. Box office draws like Brock Lesnar, Daniel Cormier, Anderson Silva, and Amanda Nunes were among some of the notable names who competed in the highly-anticipated event.
UFC events like the one this past weekend in Vegas continue to draw big numbers, especially from millennials. In an effort to further expand its reach across the world, the organization has agreed to its acquisition by WME | IMG , Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital, a global leader in entertainment and sports. With a successful track record for developing leading sports brands, the new acquisition team will make it a top priority to accelerate the global presence and awareness of MMA competition.
“We’ve been very fortunate over the year’s to represent UFC and a number of its remarkable athletes,” said WME | IMG Co-CEOs Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell. “It’s been exciting to watch the organization’s incredible growth over the last decade under the leadership of the Fertitta brothers, Dana White and their dedicated team. We’re now committed to pursuing new opportunities for UFC and its talented athletes to ensure the sport’s continued growth and success on a global scale.”
The $4 billion deal is said to be the most expensive transaction in sports history, and both sides are enthusiastic about the potential moving forward. “Were confident that the new ownership team of WME – IMG with whom we’ve built a strong relationship over the last several years, is committed to accelerating UFCS global growth. Most importantly, our new owners share the same vision and passion for this organization and its athletes,” said Chairman and CEO of the UFC, Lorenzo J Fertitta.
