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UFC, WWE top Forbes’ 2024 list of the most valuable combat sports promotions

UFC, WWE top Forbes' 2024 list of the most valuable combat sports promotions Ultimate Fighting Championship is the most valuable combat sports promotion with its business buddy, World Wrestling Entertainment, sitting comfortably…

Ultimate Fighting Championship is the most valuable combat sports promotion with its business buddy, World Wrestling Entertainment, sitting comfortably in the No. 2 spot.

Combat sports are more popular than ever. That was more than evident following Saturday’s massive UFC 300 card in Las Vegas. Even before fight night, the UFC expected recording-breaking numbers at the gate and more than a million pay-per-view purchases.

Following the landmark event, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that the event had brought in more than $16.5 million in ticket sales, making it the third-best in the company’s 30+ year history.

So it should come as no surprise that the UFC is listed as the most valuable combat sports organization in the world according to Forbes’ list of The Most Valuable Combat Sports Promotions Of 2024 with a whopping $11.3 billion evaluation.

Coming in second place is WWE, the pro wrestling giant received a $6.8 billion evaluation on the heels of WrestleMania 40. The two-night spectacular scored rave reviews from fans and per WWE, the gate for the event was up 78% compared to the previous record set during WrestleMania 39, with 145,298 in attendance across both nights this year.

In 2023, the UFC’s parent company Endeavor purchased WWE and merged the two organizations under one banner, TKO Group Holdings.

Two of the UFC and WWE’s competitors make forbes’ top five Most Valuable Combat Sports Companies

Rounding out the top five was All Elite Wrestling, the WWE’s top competitor in the world of sports entertainment. Owned by Tony Khan, AEW is worth a reported $2 billion.

Singapore-based combat sports entity ONE Championship, founded by CEO Chatri Sityodtong is listed at No. 4 with an estimated worth of $1.3 billion.

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Coming in fifth is Matchroom Boxing, a UK-based sporting event promotions company founded by Barry Hearn and run by him and his son Eddie Hearn, valued at $850 million. The three other boxing promotions in the top 10 were Top Rank Boxing ($630 million), Premier Boxing Championship ($600 million) and Golden Boy Promotions ($450 million).

Conor McGregor Ranks In Top 5 Of Social Media’s Most Valuable Athletes

Conor McGregor clearly doesn’t need to fight to stay popular on social media. As the MMA world awaits any news of his return, ‘The Notorious’ is enjoying the fruits of his highly successful Proper No. 12 whiskey business. There’…

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Conor McGregor Climbs Up Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List

Last year was a good year for Conor McGregor, to say the least. Having come in at number 85 last year, “The Notorious” made his second appearance on the prestigious Forbes list, this time rocketing up all the way to 24. 2016 was a marquee year for the brash Irishman, who became the first man […]

The post Conor McGregor Climbs Up Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Last year was a good year for Conor McGregor, to say the least.

Having come in at number 85 last year, “The Notorious” made his second appearance on the prestigious Forbes list, this time rocketing up all the way to 24.

2016 was a marquee year for the brash Irishman, who became the first man to simultaneously hold two titles in two separate weight classes after TKOing former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

McGregor made $18 million with $4 million in endorsements last year to make the number 85 spot during his first appearance on the Forbes Highest Paid Athlete list, however he claimed to have made upwards of $40 million.

This year, McGregor earned his spot at number 24 after making $27 million in fight purses and $7 million in endorsements, suggesting that the McGregor money train appears to keep on plowing forward.

Hard to believe when he was on the dole in his native Ireland before being signed to the UFC.

However it will be a difficult task breaking into the list’s top three highest paid athletes, with Lionel Messi earning $80 million, LeBron James making $86.2 million and Cristiano Ronaldo a cool $93 million.

If McGregor vs. Mayweather does happen this year as predicted, the Irishman could see himself even closer to the top ten highest paid athletes, considering what he stands to make in doing so.

UFC president Dana White has said McGregor stands to make $75 million if and when the Mayweather boxing bout goes down.

McGregor remains the only athlete to appear on the prestigious list.

The post Conor McGregor Climbs Up Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Conor McGregor Named Highest Paid MMA Fighter, According To Forbes

Forbes released a list of the Top-100 highest-paid athletes in the world, and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor finds himself on it.

McGregor, who is scheduled to return to action later this year at UFC 202 vs. Nate Diaz, comes in ranked 85t…

Forbes released a list of the Top-100 highest-paid athletes in the world, and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor finds himself on it.

McGregor, who is scheduled to return to action later this year at UFC 202 vs. Nate Diaz, comes in ranked 85th on the list. “Notorious” made a reported $22 million, with $18 million coming in salary and fight earnings from the UFC.

Ronda Rousey had previously made the Top-10 female list, but she was not included on the Top-100 overall for 2015.

Soccer mega-star Cristiano Ronaldo comes in No. 1 with a reported $88 million between his salary and endorsements. Floyd Mayweather, the previous No. 1, was 16th this year.

Made the Forbes 100 today.
Still in the hood. #Dublin12 pic.twitter.com/hMFBzYFoi9

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 8, 2016

Dana White Has a Plan ‘B’ If Strikeforce Doesn’t Work Out Under the Zuffa Banner

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Dana White was interviewed by Forbes $ports Money while he was in Toronto for UFC 129 last month and as always the UFC president had a lot to say.

Among other items, The Baldfather touched on some hot button topics like the UFC’s plans for Strikeforce, whether or not women’s MMA will survive the merger and what prompted the minority stake sale of 10 percent of the company to Flash Entertainment.

Check out the transcription of some of the key quotes from the show after the jump.

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Dana White was interviewed by Forbes $ports Money while he was in Toronto for UFC 129 last month and as always the UFC president had a lot to say.

Here’s what White had to say:

About why the UFC purchased Strikeforce:

“Well, Strikeforce was for sale. The funny thing about the reputation that we have is that we’re anti-competition, which couldn’t be further from the truth. But the reality is, as we continue to expand and grow, we do need more fighters and we love the content. We need more content. The one thing that these guys have who do it right, and the ones that we usually end up buying, is they have a great library, they have a stable of fighters and if they have a name and a television deal like Strikeforce did, that’s not a bad thing either.”

About whether or not he sees Strikeforce existing separately from the UFC for the long term:

“The thing with Strikeforce is, when we acquired them they have a deal with Showtime. We’re working with Showtime now, which I’ve had a very rocky relationship with, but Lorenzo is working with them right now, and we’re gonna try to run this thing separately and we’ll see how it goes.We’ll see if we can pull this thing off and make it happen. If it didn’t happen, the worst case scenario that happens if we own Strikeforce is these guys roll over into the UFC.”

About whether or not he feels the the skill level of athletes will continue to evolve as fast as it has:

“Yeah, well that’s our thing. The great thing about this sport is mixed martial arts is the new martial art. When you and I were growing up, parents would put you in karate or tae kwon do and stuff like that. Kids are taking mixed martial arts. This is what women, children, businessmen, guys who want to fight — this is what they train in and not just here, but all over the world. I’m in a position right now where I can get a fighter from anywhere in the world right now. As this thing continues to grow and progress, guys that would have played baseball, basketball, football — guys who are real athletes — you’re going to see a lot of them becoming mixed martial artists.”

About whether or not women’s MMA has a future under th Zuffa banner:

“There’s this big misconception out there about me that I don’t like women’s fighting and everything else. I have no problem with women’s fighting. The problem I have right now — and it was a problem with boxing and it’s a problem with MMA right now — is that you don’t have enough women who are good enough to create an entire division. So what you get are a couple of women who are very good and a lot of women that really aren’t, and I don’t like lopsided fights, especially with women. So as this sport continues to grow, if there are more and more women where you can actually create an entire division with a lot of talented women, I’m all about it.”

About why Zuffa decided to part with a 10 percent share of the company to Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment:

“Everybody was coming at us and wanted to either buy or buy into it and we didn’t need the money. There was no added value in bringing in any of these guys, so it didn’t make sense. But when we hooked up with Flash Entertainment from Abu Dhabi, these guys are the largest investment firm in the world. Not only do they have the capital, but these guys have relationships. This was more of a strategic move for us. These guys were good business partners to get in, especially as we continue to expand. Can we fly over there and set up meetings in China? I don’t know. Maybe we can do it. With these guys we can.”