Rumors regarding the potential sale of the UFC have been swirling for months now, but the situation reached a new height yesterday (June 20, 2016) when a report surfaced indicating that one hundred percent of the promotion had been sold for a record setting $4.2 billion. Flocombat.com claimed that “a group consisting of WME-IMG, the
Rumors regarding the potential sale of the UFC have been swirling for months now, but the situation reached a new height yesterday (June 20, 2016) when a report surfaced indicating that one hundred percent of the promotion had been sold for a record setting $4.2 billion. Flocombat.com claimed that “a group consisting of WME-IMG, the Dalian Wanda Group, The Kraft Group and Tencent Holdings” had submitted the bid, and that the bid had essentially been accepted.
UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sholler begs to differ, however, as he recently cited the reports as ‘false’:
“FloCombat.com’s report indicating that the UFC has been sold is false,” Sholler told MMAjunkie. “We’ve communicated that to our staff members tonight via an internal memo.”
The email in which Sholler referenced can be read in full below:
“A report today by FloCombat.com indicating that the company has been sold is false,” the email read. “This follows other false speculation in the press recently.
“Such misrepresentation of facts in the media negatively impacts our business, staff members and athletes. We have instructed our attorneys to investigate and take all appropriate legal actions against the parties publishing and contributing to these false stories.
“With International Fight Week and the historic UFC 200 rapidly approaching, we look forward to once again delivering a series of events that our fans won’s soon forget. We appreciate your hard work, diligence and commitment, and thank you for your focus as we continue to take the sport to new heights.”
The UFC has had a tendency in the past to shut down reports regarding huge news that they hadn’t yet announced themselves, but what do you make of the situation? The story regarding the potential sale of the UFC has been a popular one in recent weeks with some of the industry’s most well-respected reporters claiming that the move was almost a sure thing.
Stay tuned to LowKickMMA as more news regarding the situation unfolds.
In the last few days, UFC President Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertita have met with both Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz likely in hopes of coming to an agreement for their highly anticipated rematch that was originally scheduled for July 9’s UFC 200. According to McGregor, it seems as if his meeting with
In the last few days, UFC President Dana White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertita have met with both Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz likely in hopes of coming to an agreement for their highly anticipated rematch that was originally scheduled for July 9’s UFC 200.
According to McGregor, it seems as if his meeting with the UFC brass went well, and that both parties were able to put their differences aside.
With Diaz, however, it appears to be a different story, as it so very often is with a Diaz brother.
White, while not going into too much detail, described the situation to MMAJunkie yesterday (May 20, 2016):
“I didn’t have a good day in Stockton.”
Despite not having all of the facts, one would have to assume that Diaz and the UFC brass hit a roadblock when talks of money came up.
The younger Diaz brother has had his fair share of contract disputes with the promotion, and he’s always stated that he’s interested in only big fights and big money.
The key factor here, however, is that the Stockton native never really had too much leverage. In the eyes of White, Diaz didn’t necessarily “move the needle” despite being quite a popular name amongst the fans.
To the UFC, Diaz likely appeared as a complaining fighter who seemed to talk more than he would fight, and one could argue that this theory was partly true.
Now, however, the roles have reversed, and the tides have changed. The ball is finally in Diaz’s court, and he finally has the leverage he’s been waiting so long for.
The former title challenger came in on less than two week’s notice and took out the sport’s biggest star in McGregor via submission at March’s UFC 196. He talked his head off, sold the fight, and deserves his credit for being part of one of the biggest events in mixed martial arts history.
Diaz undoubtedly became even bigger of a star after UFC 196, and fans want to see him fight now more than ever, and despite the criticism towards a Diaz vs. McGregor rematch, the fight would simply be massive.
The younger brother of MMA’s most polarizing duo has had a long, somewhat controversial, and interesting career to say the least.
He may have been out of line many times before regarding his demands from the UFC, but this one time, he may be right on point, and he’s made it clear what he wants: a rematch with the Irishman, and a boatload of cash.
It’s time that the UFC gives in, and pays Nate Diaz his money.
UFC President Dana White and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor have finally reunited after their beef over the Irishman’s refusal to attend the Las Vegas press event to promote his now-scrapped UFC 200 headliner against Nate Diaz. McGregor and White headed upstairs of the Montage Hotel in Beverley Hills, followed by three huge bodyguards, for a
UFC President Dana White and UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor have finally reunited after their beef over the Irishman’s refusal to attend the Las Vegas press event to promote his now-scrapped UFC 200 headliner against Nate Diaz.
McGregor and White headed upstairs of the Montage Hotel in Beverley Hills, followed by three huge bodyguards, for a private dinner to discuss ‘big business’ as McGregor likes to call it. According to sources via TMZ, the two men ‘hugged when they first met’ however it was ‘a very aggressive embrace … the kind you could hear from down the hall.’
The two-hour meeting seemed to go well as McGregor left the meeting with a huge smile on his face, along with White later posting a happy Instagram pic with UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta:
It looks as thought the two sides have settled their differences and an announcement regarding McGregor’s next opponent could be near. The possibilities for the Irishman’s next opponent are endless as there are many ways the 145-pound champ could go.
The rematch that was originally planned between Nate Diaz is certainly a possibility, as McGregor is obsessed with avenging his first UFC loss that he suffered back in March after the Stockton native submitted him in the second round.
McGregor could also hold out until the winner of Aldo vs Edgar II is settled, and go on to unify his title with the winner of the interim title bout, possibly headlining the UFC’s first New York card.
And finally, the most popular and trending choice, McGregor could possibly co-headline a super fight boxing match between legend Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather Jr.. The two mega stars have recently been linked to talks of negotiating a possible ‘Boxing vs MMA’ bout, seeing Mayweather looking to achieve his 50th professional win of his undefeated career.
No official announcement has been made as to who McGregor’s next opponent is, however one is expected soon. Stick with LowKick for the latest on Conor McGregor and his next scheduled bout.
A report has surfaced from ESPN’s Darren Rovell this evening (Tues., May 10, 2016) the UFC’s parent company Zuffa, LLC is in talks to sell the company according to sources close to the situation. According to the report, multiple bidders have made offers in regards to purchasing the promotion including WME/IMG, China Media Capital, The Blackstone
A report has surfaced from ESPN’s Darren Rovell this evening (Tues., May 10, 2016) the UFC’s parent company Zuffa, LLC is in talks to sell the company according to sources close to the situation.
According to the report, multiple bidders have made offers in regards to purchasing the promotion including WME/IMG, China Media Capital, The Blackstone Group and Dalian Wanda Group with the Dalian Wanda Group appearing as the leader at the moment.
The Chinese-based organization is owned by the richest man in China, Wang Jianlin, and has recently began to make a slow and steady entry into the booming sports industry.
In recent memory, it seems as if the idea of the UFC being sold has become an increasingly popular one, although now possibly reaching a new height.
Dave Sholler, Vice President of Public Relations for the UFC, commented on the reality of the situation, although adding relatively no insight:
“As a private company, we don’t discuss speculation or rumors related to our business,” said Sholler.
The UFC is indeed a private organization under parent company Zuffa, LLC. Brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertita own upwards of eighty percent of the company while UFC President Dana White as well as the Abu Dhabi government have stakes as well.
Given the private nature of the organization, financial records aren’t normally released, although it is well-known that the UFC is coming off of one of its best years to date in 2015, and has seemed to keep that trend going in the first half of 2016 on the coat tails of pay-per-view (PPV) superstar and reigning featherweight champion Conor McGregor.
With that being said, one would have to think that a deal to sell the world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion would be a monumental one to say the least.
Conor McGregor was surprisingly pulled from UFC 200 due to his refusal to commit to do any promotions for his rematch against Nate Diaz. UFC boss Dana White announced the news on ESPN’s SportsCenter. White made the announcement after the superstar had this bizarre tweet earlier in the day announcing his unexpected retirement.
“Conor did not want to come to Las Vegas and film the commercial and be part of any of the marketing we have,” Dana White said to SportsCenter. “He is in Iceland training right now and its not possible.”
In the past, Dana White pulled Nick Diaz out of UFC 137 for failing to show up to a press conference in his title bout with Georges St. Pierre. McGregor was slated to go on another world tour, like the one he did with Jose Aldo leading up to UFC 189, but “Mystic Mac” wanted to stay put in Iceland to train in preparation for his rematch. White, however, was not so enthusiastic with the Irishman’s approach.
“Guys didn’t want to do press conference,” White went on to say. “You have to do the press conference so Conor put out that tweet.”
There have been reports in the past that there might be a power struggle between the UFC and Conor McGregor. McGregor’s quick rise to stardom has had many fans and pundits question who is really in control since the Dublin native has single-handedly broken numerous gate records and has had multiple one million-plus pay-per-view events.
McGregor has stated in multiple interviews and social media posts that he is the company. With the move that Dana White made to pull McGregor, it reassures fans that the UFC executive are in full control of their company and not obliged to play favorites to a single fighter.
Many fans in the MMA community in the past have said that Dana White likes to play favorites with Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor because of the revenue and attention that they have brought to the UFC. McGregor was even more of a superstar breaking gate records at UFC 189 and subsequently at UFC 194. His bout with Nate Diaz at UFC 196 is said to have had roughly 1.5 million pay-per-view buys too, which is the 2nd most in UFC history.
White simply made a protocol move by pulling McGregor out of UFC 200. No fighter should be able to get out of media appearances without any consequences. It is not only standard in the UFC but standard in every other major sport to give media obligations. At the end of the day, UFC fighters are employees of Zuffa and work for the company. Conor McGregor is an employee and Dana White/Fertitta brothers are the employers.
White was firm in his decision to remove McGregor out of UFC 200 when he gave interviews on “SportsCenter” and “The Herd”.
“He (McGreogr) said, ‘I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to come (Las Vegas)’,” White said to Colin Cowherd. “I basically said you have to come.”
That is what a promoter and ultimately company president should be like. If fans were still thinking if Dana White is playing favorites or “cuddling” to McGregor, they should stop right there. White removed his superstar from the most hyped-up and historic UFC card yet to date.
The buck stops with Dana White and ultimately, in an unprecedented move, no fighter is going to have the final say over the UFC brass.
Conor McGregor was surprisingly pulled from UFC 200 due to his refusal to commit to do any promotions for his rematch against Nate Diaz. UFC boss Dana White announced the news on ESPN’s SportsCenter. White made the announcement after the superstar had this bizarre tweet earlier in the day announcing his unexpected retirement.
I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya's later.
“Conor did not want to come to Las Vegas and film the commercial and be part of any of the marketing we have,” Dana White said to SportsCenter. “He is in Iceland training right now and its not possible.”
In the past, Dana White pulled Nick Diaz out of UFC 137 for failing to show up to a press conference in his title bout with Georges St. Pierre. McGregor was slated to go on another world tour, like the one he did with Jose Aldo leading up to UFC 189, but “Mystic Mac” wanted to stay put in Iceland to train in preparation for his rematch. White, however, was not so enthusiastic with the Irishman’s approach.
“Guys didn’t want to do press conference,” White went on to say. “You have to do the press conference so Conor put out that tweet.”
There have been reports in the past that there might be a power struggle between the UFC and Conor McGregor. McGregor’s quick rise to stardom has had many fans and pundits question who is really in control since the Dublin native has single-handedly broken numerous gate records and has had multiple one million-plus pay-per-view events.
McGregor has stated in multiple interviews and social media posts that he is the company. With the move that Dana White made to pull McGregor, it reassures fans that the UFC executive are in full control of their company and not obliged to play favorites to a single fighter.
Many fans in the MMA community in the past have said that Dana White likes to play favorites with Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor because of the revenue and attention that they have brought to the UFC. McGregor was even more of a superstar breaking gate records at UFC 189 and subsequently at UFC 194. His bout with Nate Diaz at UFC 196 is said to have had roughly 1.5 million pay-per-view buys too, which is the 2nd most in UFC history.
White simply made a protocol move by pulling McGregor out of UFC 200. No fighter should be able to get out of media appearances without any consequences. It is not only standard in the UFC but standard in every other major sport to give media obligations. At the end of the day, UFC fighters are employees of Zuffa and work for the company. Conor McGregor is an employee and Dana White/Fertitta brothers are the employers.
White was firm in his decision to remove McGregor out of UFC 200 when he gave interviews on “SportsCenter” and “The Herd”.
“He (McGreogr) said, ‘I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to come (Las Vegas)’,” White said to Colin Cowherd. “I basically said you have to come.”
That is what a promoter and ultimately company president should be like. If fans were still thinking if Dana White is playing favorites or “cuddling” to McGregor, they should stop right there. White removed his superstar from the most hyped-up and historic UFC card yet to date.
The buck stops with Dana White and ultimately, in an unprecedented move, no fighter is going to have the final say over the UFC brass.
Roy Nelson made history last night at UFC 161. No, he didn’t become just the second man in UFC history to score four consecutive first round knockout wins as I’m sure he hoped he would.
According to UFC President Dana White, “Big Country”, with the help of Stipe Miocic, instead set a record that is incredibly detrimental to his own health.“Roy Nelson broke a UFC record tonight: 437 significant strikes absorbed without being knocked out. It’s a new UFC record,” White said.
We originally reported that number based on White’s statement. So did many other outlets, including MMA Weekly, Yahoo! Sports and MMA Fighting. A look over at FightMetric, the official statisticians for the UFC, however, reveals that Nelson absorbed only 106 strikes from Miocic.
White was probably using hyperbole to underscore a couple points about Nelson – how tough he is, how badly he got beaten, etc. – but it is telling that his 400 + strikes number didn’t strike many in the media as too far off.
Miocic knocked Nelson around that badly. And we’ve seen it happen before to the outspoken heavyweight.
Nelson probably should have taken a contract extension deal when it was offered to him by the UFC. He probably should not have fought Miocic just six weeks after his prior fight, a win over Cheick Kongo, and Nelson definitely shouldn’t be fighting in the heavyweight division.
Folks who respect and admire Nelson have been calling for the morbidly obese fighter to drop down to light heavyweight for years.
Forget all that.
Nelson has the height and frame of a tall lightweight or normal welterweight fighter. But instead of living a healthy lifestyle and fighting at, say, 170 pounds, the man has often had trouble of making the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds.
Roy Nelson clearly has a problem, and it isn’t just the fact that he can’t ever seem to be more than a punching bag any time he fights a top heavyweight – though it is related. The charismatic and gifted fighter has a consumption problem.
Roy Nelson made history last night at UFC 161. No, he didn’t become just the second man in UFC history to score four consecutive first round knockout wins as I’m sure he hoped he would.
According to UFC President Dana White, “Big Country”, with the help of Stipe Miocic, instead set a record that is incredibly detrimental to his own health.“Roy Nelson broke a UFC record tonight: 437 significant strikes absorbed without being knocked out. It’s a new UFC record,” White said.
We originally reported that number based on White’s statement. So did many other outlets, including MMA Weekly, Yahoo! Sports and MMA Fighting. A look over at FightMetric, the official statisticians for the UFC, however, reveals that Nelson absorbed only 106 strikes from Miocic.
White was probably using hyperbole to underscore a couple points about Nelson – how tough he is, how badly he got beaten, etc. – but it is telling that his 400 + strikes number didn’t strike many in the media as too far off.
Miocic knocked Nelson around that badly. And we’ve seen it happen before to the outspoken heavyweight.
Nelson probably should have taken a contract extension deal when it was offered to him by the UFC. He probably should not have fought Miocic just six weeks after his prior fight, a win over Cheick Kongo, and Nelson definitely shouldn’t be fighting in the heavyweight division.
Folks who respect and admire Nelson have been calling for the morbidly obese fighter to drop down to light heavyweight for years.
Forget all that.
Nelson has the height and frame of a tall lightweight or normal welterweight fighter. But instead of living a healthy lifestyle and fighting at, say, 170 pounds, the man has often had trouble of making the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds.
Roy Nelson clearly has a problem, and it isn’t just the fact that he can’t ever seem to be more than a punching bag any time he fights a top heavyweight – though it is related. The charismatic and gifted fighter has a consumption problem.
No kidding, right? But it’s time we get past the “haha, Roy is fat” stage and ponder for a second how sick he must be. For someone to be as large as he is, with the amount of exercise that he must do for fight training, he’d have to eat an obscene amount of food as a part of a grotesquely unbalanced diet.
Roy shouldn’t be in there with heavyweights. He’s just a welterweight with a gigantic gut, skinny legs and arms and a ton of heart.
We should no longer just admire Nelson’s heart, however, or be amazed at how well he does despite his self-imposed handicap. We, and more importantly he and the people who love him, should start thinking about the damage Nelson’s brain is sustaining taking so many blows from men who are so much bigger than he.
The fact that Nelson doesn’t get knocked out doesn’t mean that he isn’t getting concussed or suffering a great deal of sub concussive brain damage. He most certainly is.
Nelson isn’t competitive against the very best in the heavyweight division and he’s taking a lot of punishment insisting on fighting them. For either reason, or both, he needs to re-evaluate how he lives and at what weight he competes at.
Time isn’t the thirty six year old’s friend at this point. Unfortunately, his post-fight comments show that Nelson hasn’t learned his lesson. Hopefully Dana White, who expressed that he’s interested in bringing Nelson back after his contract expires in July, can help convince him to make changes.
“I want to get past this loss and fight,” Nelson said at the UFC 161 post event press conference.
“If Dana and Lorenzo [Fertita] want me to be in the UFC then hey, I’ll be knocking on Cain Velasquez’s door or whoever the champ is when I’m knocking on it.”
