mma / News
UPDATED x2: WME | IMG Officially Acquires The UFC
Image Credit: UFC
UPDATE x2: UFC fighter Joe Lauzon posted the following, sharing this letter from the UFC brass to the fighters regarding the sale of the company..
UPDATED: It was officially announced this morning, via press release, that WME | IMG has officially acquired the UFC. Upon closing, Lorenzo Fertitta will step down from day-to-day operations, but Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta will both retain a passive minority interest in the organization. Dana White will remain in his role as UFC president. WME | IMG Co-CEOs Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell released the following statement…
“We’ve been fortunate over the years to represent UFC and a number of its remarkable athletes. 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.”
– Dana White added the following…
“No other sport compares to UFC. Our goal has always been to put on the biggest and the best fights for our fans, and to make this the biggest sport in the world. I’m looking forward to working with WME | IMG to continue to take this sport to the next level.”
ORIGINAL: It’s once again been reported that the UFC has been sold for $4 billion. TMZ has reportedly confirmed that the deal is done and that WME/IMG talent agency will be the new owners, with WME/IMG co-CEO Ari Emanuel described as someone who “will wield a lot of power” over the UFC.
Dana White will still serve as president of the company and the Fertittas will still have minority interest and a diminished role, but Lorenzo Fertitta will step down as CEO. The deal has been agreed upon, but the final legalities and signatures will take six to eight weeks to finish up.
A deal was rumored to have been done last month for a similar price to a combined ownership group of WME-IMG, the Dalian Wanda Group, The Kraft Group and Tencent Holdings, but the UFC denied those reports.
