Zuffa LLC, which owns the UFC, is reportedly nearing a deal to sell the mixed martial arts company.
According to ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell, Zuffa is “in advanced talks to sell the business” for between $3.5 and $4 billion, with bidders such as WME/IMG, The Blackstone Group, China Media Capital and Dalian Wanda Group listed among the prospective buyers.
“As a private company, we don’t discuss speculation or rumors related to our business,” David Sholler, vice president of public relations and athlete marketing and development for the UFC, said, according to Rovell.
Zuffa LLC reportedly purchased the UFC for $2 million in 2001.
Citing sources, Rovell reported Dalian Wanda Group is the leader to come up with the winning bid, with company Chairman Wang Jianlin—the richest man in China—leading the charge.
According to Forbes, the self-made billionaire from Beijing already owns plenty of properties in the entertainment space. Jianlin purchased the AMC movie theater chain for $2.6 billion in 2013, and he followed that purchase up by buying Legendary Entertainment for a reported $3.5 billion earlier this year.
Rovell also reported that Jianlin purchased a 20 percent stake in Spanish soccer power—and 2015-16 UEFA Champions League finalist—Atletico Madrid for $48 million. Forbes added that Jianlin purchased the organizer of Ironman Triathlons for $650 million.
Given the direction Dalian Wanda has been heading over the past few years, the UFC would appear to make sense as a logical addition to the company’s holdings.
Should Zuffa wind up striking a deal with one of the interested parties, Rovell cited another potential investment opportunity for Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta—the company’s principle owners:
Given the rate at which the UFC’s popularity has grown in conjunction with the emergences of stars such as Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Jon Jones and Nate Diaz, it appears as though the Fertitta brothers could be on the verge of a massive payday after making a savvy investment 15 years ago.
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