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When Ric Flair Tried to Out-Smoke Mike Tyson: “I didn’t even know where I was”

When Ric Flair Tried to Out-Smoke Mike Tyson: "I didn't even know where I was" WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair once made the mistake of trying to out-smoke ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. After establishing…

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair once made the mistake of trying to out-smoke ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

After establishing themselves as two of the absolute best in their respective fields, Tyson and Flair took a similar path in their twilight years, choosing to promote their own lines of cannabis-based products appropriately named Tyson 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip.

Tyson and the “stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun” have acted as spokesmen for their brands over the years while often teaming up to support the decriminalization of marijuana and to discuss how cannabis has helped them in various aspects of their life.

Recently, Tyson appeared via video call at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Hollywood alongside the legendary wrestler. During their time together, Tyson and Flair shared anecdotes about their use of marijuana which eventually led to a debate over who could smoke more between the two.

Hilariously, Flair quickly declared Tyson the winner while revealing that the two had engaged in a friendly contest some time back that didn’t exactly go his way.

“I said ‘You know what, Mike, I’m going to show you that I can smoke as much as you.’ At four o’clock in the morning, I didn’t even know where I was,” Flair said. “Literally, he puts Ric Flair to bed with his cannabis” (h/t Marca).

Mike Tyson returns to the ring on November 15

While the 75-year-old Flair has put his professional wrestling career to bed (we hope), Mike Tyson is preparing for a return to the boxing ring for his first professional bout in nearly two decades.

On Friday, November 15, ‘Iron’ will lace up the gloves inside the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for a clash with ‘The Problem Child’ Jake Paul.

The fight will air on Netflix, making it the first live combat sports broadcast for the streaming giant since the subscription-based service went live on January 16, 2007.

Paul, who will be 31 years younger than Tyson come fight night, carries with him a 10-1 record including seven wins by way of knockout. His only loss came against Tommy Fury via split decision in February 2023. Tyson’s last pro fight was on June 11, 2005, against Kevin McBride. Shortly after, Tyson hung up his gloves for good.

‘Iron’ went 50-6 with 44 KOs and 2 no-contests over the course of his 20-year career.

When Ric Flair Tried to Out-Smoke Mike Tyson: “I didn’t even know where I was”

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair once made the mistake of trying to out-smoke ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. After establishing…

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair once made the mistake of trying to out-smoke ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

Hilariously, Flair quickly declared Tyson the winner while revealing that the two had engaged in a friendly contest some time back that didn’t exactly go his way.

“I said ‘You know what, Mike, I’m going to show you that I can smoke as much as you.’ At four o’clock in the morning, I didn’t even know where I was,” Flair said. “Literally, he puts Ric Flair to bed with his cannabis” (h/t Marca).

Mike Tyson returns to the ring on November 15

While the 75-year-old Flair has put his professional wrestling career to bed (we hope), Mike Tyson is preparing for a return to the boxing ring for his first professional bout in nearly two decades.

On Friday, November 15, ‘Iron’ will lace up the gloves inside the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas for a clash with ‘The Problem Child’ Jake Paul.

The fight will air on Netflix, making it the first live combat sports broadcast for the streaming giant since the subscription-based service went live on January 16, 2007.

‘Iron’ went 50-6 with 44 KOs and 2 no-contests over the course of his 20-year career.

Dana White comments on WWE’s rumored relocation to Las Vegas

If Dana White does know anything about the WWE’s rumored move to Las Vegas, he’s not telling. On Tuesday,…

If Dana White does know anything about the WWE’s rumored move to Las Vegas, he’s not telling.

On Tuesday, WrestleVotes reported that employees of World Wrestling Entertainment were informed in a meeting at the corporate Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut that the Performance Center would be relocating from Orlando, Florida to Las Vegas. Mark Shapiro, the president of William Morris Endeavor, the WWE’s parent company, reportedly revealed the news to a room full of employees.

For those unaware, Endeavor is also the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Endeavor closed a deal to purchase the WWE for $9.3 billion in April 2023 before merging both the UFC and the sports entertainment juggernaut into one company, TKO Group Holdings. With Las Vegas already serving as the UFC’s base of operations, speculation quickly ran rampant that WWE’s rumored move could be the first step toward further combining the two companies into one.

Asked about the WWE’s rumored move into its territory following Tuesday’s episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, the UFC CEO remained tight-lipped but flashed a curious smile suggesting he knows more than he’s willing to share.

Dana White asked about the rumors of the WWE moving their Performance Center to Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/iEIxbmRHSq

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) August 28, 2024

“That’s none of my business. I know nothing about it,” White said coyly. “It’s none of my business. Let the WWE talk about their business.”

Rumors of WWE’s Move to Las Vegas Alread Debunked?

Not long after the rumor ran rampant on social media, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that a source within the company claimed it was false and that no such meeting had taken place. The site also added that nobody within the performance center had heard of any such plans to move to Vegas and were shocked when the word began circulating of such a move.

Sources also indicated that Shapiro has talked about how Las Vegas is a sports and entertainment destination and that there was the possibility of a WWE presence on the table, though no immediate plans to relocate are in place.

Despite the followups from both Sapp and Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, WrestleVotes doubled down on their initial report.

Ronda Rousey Calls Out Steroid-Pumped Cris Cyborg: No One Wants to Watch Her Cheating A B***

Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey was a megastar in the world of MMA huge huge mainstream crossover appeal. The became the…

Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey was a megastar in the world of MMA huge huge mainstream crossover appeal. The became the face of the UFC. Rousey is also the reason the UFC started allowing women’s fights at all. In this interview, she reflects on saving women’s MMA and slams all-time great Cris Cyborg.

Ronda Rousey on Women’s MMA

Ronda Rousey was an Olympic medalist and then began competing in MMA in Strikeforce. There, she was celebrated for her trash talk and feud against Miesha Tate. Zuffa, the owning company of the UFC, bought Strikeforce so Rousey made sure to get women into the UFC. Even Dana White admitted that they would never have started the women’s fighting division if it wasn’t for ‘Rowdy’ Ronda Rousey.

Ronda Rousey admits she never evolved during UFC career I was being everything to everyone

Prior to Rousey’s run, the biggest names in women’s MMA were Cris Cyborg and Gina Carano who fought on network TV under Strikeforce. The Brazilian fighter has picked up titles in Invicta, Strikeforce, Bellator, and the UFC, among others. Despite being a trailblazer and an all-time great, Ronda Rousey has no love for Cris Cyborg.

Speaking in an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Rousey explained:

“People forget how fragile that situation was and how last-minute I was able to get us in. Strikeforce was the only organization that was really showcasing women and that was because of Gina Carano, because her dad was involved with the Nevada Athletic Commission and was able to sanction fights for her and all these things.”

Ronda Rousey hits back at UFC fans over criticizm of KO losses I'm the greatest fighter to ever live — Mandatory Credit: MMA Junkie

Speaking on Cris Cyborg, she said:

“When she was gone, Cris Cyborg’s pumped to the f*cking gills with steroids. No one wants to watch that cheating ass bitch. Everything just tanked. The division was dying. The UFC bought Strikeforce and it was assumed they were just going to absorb all of the male talent that they liked and fold the whole organization, because that’s what they did with PRIDE, that’s what they did with WEC, that was their business model. So there was a matter of time.”

Rousey added:

“It was just a matter of time before they closed the whole thing and there would be nowhere that would showcase women’s MMA, so I had that much time to make sure that Dana [White] couldn’t go a single day without seeing my name somewhere. The rest is history.” [Ht MMAFighting]

Ronda Rousey was able to create a massive amount of attention for women’s MMA with her impressive and quick wins in the UFC. She has since MMA and began competing in WWE professional wrestling.

UFC’s Revenue Jump to $394M Helps TKO Group Holdings Q2: UFC 300 and WrestleMania 40 Exceed Expectations

UFC’s Revenue exceeded expectations after UFC 300 and 303 outpaced expectations. The TKO Group Holdings stock surged in combination…

UFC’s Revenue exceeded expectations after UFC 300 and 303 outpaced expectations. The TKO Group Holdings stock surged in combination with WWE’s WrestleMania 40.

UFC’s Revenue and TKO Group Holdings

With site fees, sponsorships, and live events, the UFC’s revenue climbed to $394 million, an increase of nearly thirty percent, during the quarter. MMA Journalist John S. Nash reported on X, formerly Twitter:

Halfway through the year and UFC revenues are up in every revenue category but consumer products. Revenues for 1st 6 months is $707.4m and adjusted EBITDA is $$427m, a modest 60% margin.

TKO Group Holdings leader Ariel Emanuel said:

“TKO generated strong financial results in the quarter, highlighted by record quarterly revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. In light of this continued momentum, we are raising our full year 2024 guidance for the second quarter in a row. The strength in our underlying business continues to give us great conviction in TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.” [Ht MMAMania]

The stock TKO Group Holdings is a combination of the UFC and WWE, with Endeavor owning a piece of both the UFC and WWE. For the quarter, reported by Variety, TKO’s total revenue was $851 million with a net income of $150 million and adjusted EBITDA of $420 million. TKO bumped up its 2024 revenue target by about $60 million to somewhere between $2.67 billion and $2.74 billion.

This is the most successful period in the organization’s history. TKO Group Holdings success was largely driven by the blockbuster UFC 300, UFC 303, and WrestleMania 40. Overall, it means the UFC is having a great year and breaking records. This is the highest revenue the company has put together.

Who Owns the UFC? Questions about the Ultimate Fighting Championship Answered

Who Owns the UFC? Ari Emanuel, TKO Group, Dana White, and Endeavor, are all key figures in this story….

Who Owns the UFC? Ari Emanuel, TKO Group, Dana White, and Endeavor, are all key figures in this story. It began with the Fertitta brothers purchasing the UFC from SEG in 2001 and continues to evolve to this day. Endeavor with a collection of investment firms owns the bulk of the UFC.

Who Owns the UFC?

Who Owns the UFC? The Ultimate Fighting Championship is owned by Endeavor Group Holdings and a combination of investment firms and Dana White. Endeavor holds a majority stake in the organization. The entertainment, sports, and talent agency, acquired the UFC in 2016 for approximately $4.025 billion. This acquisition marked one of the largest transactions in sports history. Firms Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital also own a piece of the UFC.

Stakeholders of the UFC

Who Owns the UFC? These are the various stakeholders who own parts of the UFC

Endeavor Group Holdings (50.1%)

Endeavor Group is a company specializing in talent and media agency services. The company was formed in April 2009 through the merger of the William Morris Agency and Endeavor Talent Agency. The firm represents a wide range of artists in film, television, music, theater, digital media, publishing, and more. It also represents major sports leagues like the NFL and NHL and owns various sports and entertainment properties, including the UFC and WWE through TKO Group Holdings.

Who Owns the UFC Dana White Ari Emmanuel

Silver Lake Partners

Silver Lake Partners is a private equity firm focused on technology investments. Founded in 1999, Silver Lake manages assets worth $102 billion with a focus on tech. In addition to the UFC, they also own a part of Dell Computers and Alibaba.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is a global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, and credit. KKR is known for its leveraged buyouts and significant investments in various industries. Largely it is known as a payment processing company and owns a part of the UFC and GoDaddy.

MSD Capital

MSD Capital is a private investment firm that manages the capital of Michael Dell and his family. Founded in 1998, the firm focuses on a wide range of investment strategies.

Dana White

Dana White initially owned 10% of the UFC when it was acquired by the Fertitta brothers in 2001. This stake was later reduced to 9% after Flash Entertainment acquired a 10% stake in Zuffa, the then-parent company of the UFC, in 2009. Who owns the UFC and is it Dana White?

When the UFC was sold to WME-IMG, now Endeavor, in 2016, White retained his 9% ownership stake. This sale earned him around $360 million. Despite the complete acquisition of the UFC by Endeavor in 2021, reports indicate that Dana White retained his 9% ownership stake in the organization. His role and influence have continued to be significant, especially after the merger of UFC and WWE under TKO Group Holdings in 2023.

Merger with WWE and TKO Holdings

Who owns the UFC and is it TKO? Announced in April 2023, Endeavor announced that the UFC would merge with the WWE to form a new public company named TKO Group Holdings. Endeavor owns 51% of TKO, while WWE shareholders own the remaining 49%. The combined valuation of the new entity is approximately $21 billion, with the UFC valued at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion.

Who is Ari Emanuel?

Ari Emanuel is a prominent figure in this story, serving as the CEO of Endeavor and TKO. Who owns the UFC and is it Ari Emanuel? Kind of. Following the merger of UFC and WWE to form TKO Group Holdings, Ari Emanuel was appointed as the CEO of the new entity. Emanuel also serves as the Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings, overseeing the strategic direction and integration of UFC and WWE under one corporate umbrella.

Fertitta Brothers and Zuffa

Some historical context on who owns the UFC: In January 2001, the Fertitta brothers purchased the UFC from Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) for $2 million. At the time, the UFC was struggling financially and on the brink of bankruptcy. To manage their new acquisition, the Fertittas created Zuffa, LLC, which became the parent entity of the UFC. The word “Zuffa” is Italian for “brawl.”

Lorenzo Fertitta served as the CEO of the UFC, while Frank Fertitta III was involved in strategic decisions. Their leadership, along with Dana White as President, was instrumental in revitalizing the UFC. In July 2016, the Fertitta brothers sold their majority stake in the UFC to a group led by WME-IMG, now known as Endeavor. Who owns the UFC and it is Zuffa? Not anymore.

After the sale, the Fertittas retained a minority ownership stake for a period but eventually exited their roles in the UFC’s day-to-day operations. Lorenzo Fertitta stepped down from his position to focus on other ventures, including Fertitta Capital, a private investment firm he launched with his brother in 2017.

Who owns the UFC? Hopefully the above is able to answer all of your questions.