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

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

Who owns the UFC Dana White Ari Emanuel TKO

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.

UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Update

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.

Dana White

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.

Video – Ex-WWE star Jack Claffey, released over sexual misconduct, loses via round 1 TKO

Video - Ex-WWE Star Jack Claffey, released over Sexual Misconduct, loses via Round 1 TKOJack Claffey, a former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) professional wrestler, made his return to mixed martial arts at the…

Video - Ex-WWE Star Jack Claffey, released over Sexual Misconduct, loses via Round 1 TKO

Jack Claffey, a former WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) professional wrestler, made his return to mixed martial arts at the end of last month under the banner of the Graham Boylan-led Cage Warriors promotion, dropping an opening round knockout loss.

Claffey, who competed in the WWE under the ring name of Gentleman Jack Gallagher, has competed twice in mixed martial arts – with both outings coming with Cage Warriors since 2022, suffering knockout losses in both matchups.

claffey

Jack Claffey stopped in sophomore MMA match

Returning at the end of July at Cage Warriors 175, Manchester native, Claffey was stopped in the opening round by Kallum Parker with a first round TKO loss via strikes, seeing his record in the sport move to 0-2 since his debut two years ago.

Also competing in the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) back in May 2022, Jack Claffey earned a post-fight Performance of the Night bonus after turning in third round KO win over Rick Caruso in Orlando, Florida.

Handed his release from the above-mentioned, WWE back in 2020 following a historical sexual midconduct allegation levelled against him, Jack Claffey has yet to compete in the organization in the time since his departure.

Jack Claffey 'Gentleman' Jack Gallagher

Hit with a slew of reactions on social media after his loss, Claffey’s past allegations have since followed him in his move to mixed martial arts.

“Well done Kallum in dealing with that waste, who sexually assaults women,” A user commmented on Cage Warrior’s official X account.

“Early stoppage.”

“Jeez Jack is sh*te and got what he deserved. Not working out well for him this MMA stuff.”

“Always nice to see a racist get destroyed.”

What Happened to Brock Lesnar? UFC and WWE Star has Not Been Seen

What Happened to Brock Lesnar?What Happened to Brock Lesnar? Brock Lesnar, a staple of the WWE and former UFC heavyweight champion, has not…

What Happened to Brock Lesnar?

What Happened to Brock Lesnar? Brock Lesnar, a staple of the WWE and former UFC heavyweight champion, has not been seen for some time on television.

What Happened to Brock Lesnar?

Brock Lesnar was a NCAA collegiate wrestling standout who transitioned into professional wrestling with the WWE. Later on, he would dip his toes in MMA and was able to capture a UFC title by defeating then-champion Randy Couture. Eventually, he would lose this title to Cain Velasquez. But, due to a bad case of diverticulitis, Lesnar decided to leave his MMA career behind and focus on the WWE. What Happened to Brock Lesnar in the UFC? He got diverticulitis and could no longer compete.

Brock Lesnar

But, what happened to Brock Lesnar in the WWE? Brock Lesnar’s current status with WWE is complicated due to legal issues stemming from a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant. The lawsuit involves allegations against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and the WWE, with Lesnar being potentially named as someone Grant was trafficked to. As a result, WWE’s legal team has decided to keep Lesnar off television until the situation is resolved.

Most recently, Lesnar lost to Cody Rhodes in 2023. He was initially expected to participate in events such as the 2024 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania XL, but his involvement was scrapped due to the lawsuit. Although there were rumors that WWE’s ban on mentioning Lesnar had been lifted, there has been no official word on his return to WWE programming.

Triple H has stated that WWE is open to discussing Lesnar’s return when the legal situation is clearer. However, it is ultimately up to WWE to decide when and if they want him back on screen. For now, Lesnar remains in a state of limbo, with his return contingent on the resolution of the legal issues surrounding the lawsuit.

UFC star Derrick Lewis jokes about potential WWE crossover attire: ‘Remember Goldust?’

Derrick Lewis reveals planned attire for WWE debut after UFC St. Louis win remember GoldustDerrick Lewis has always loved to joke around, and when asked about a potential WWE crossover, he responded in…

Derrick Lewis reveals planned attire for WWE debut after UFC St. Louis win remember Goldust

Derrick Lewis has always loved to joke around, and when asked about a potential WWE crossover, he responded in a hilarious way.

‘The Black Beast’ returned to his winning ways last night in St. Louis against Rodrigo Nascimento at the Enterprise Center. In between the second and third rounds, Lewis’ coach implored his fighter to get back to what he does best, which is to knock people out. Lewis obliged and shut the lights of Nascimento out before even a full minute could pass in the third round.

Derrick Lewis UFC St. Louis

Now just 2-3 in his last five fights, Lewis has shown an eagerness to make a foray into WWE as his UFC career winds down. When asked about what his WWE finisher and costume would be like, Derrick Lewis didn’t mind delving further into the details.

Derrick Lewis Speaks on what his WWE gimmick would look like

“Um, it’s probably,” Lewis began. “You remember Goldust? Probably something like that.” He had a smile on his face as he said those words, possibly implying a genuine interest in doing that, as well.

Derrick Lewis WWE Goldust

“You know, as long as I get to paint my face,” Derrick Lewis continued. “People really ain’t gonna know it’s me. Imma be a whole a*s freak out there.”

Lewis UFC St. Louis

When asked if he was going to go all in with the tights and boots, Lewis smiled and replied in the affirmative. “All that, and be a little sassy with it,” he said.

Lewis wouldn’t be the first athlete to crossover from MMA to the WWE, and now that the two companies are owned by the same people, it’s very likely that it could happen. With his personality, ‘The Black Beast’ would probably be an entertaining wrestler, and it sounds like he’d want a funny and out-of-the-box gimmick as well.

What do you think about Derrick Lewis considering making a change to the WWE?

Betting odds released for potential hip hop clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar in boxing and WWE

Betting odds released for potential hip hop clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar in boxing and WWERivalries in the world of hip hop are nothing new. Ever since the genre exploded during the 1980s, diss…

Betting odds released for potential hip hop clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar in boxing and WWE

Rivalries in the world of hip hop are nothing new.

Ever since the genre exploded during the 1980s, diss tracks have been an integral part of the industry for rappers looking to bounce Sucker MCs out of the rap game. Some of the most iconic rivalries in hip hop history include Ice Cube vs. his former group, N.W.A.

Nas and Jay-Z went toe-to-toe in the 90s while Eminem’s protege 50 Cent took his two-decade-long feud with Ja Rule public after both hit it big in the 2000s with a series of hit singles.

Of course, you can’t talk about hip hop rivalries without mentioning the beef between Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G. East Coast vs. West Coast was a defining moment in hip hop history. Sadly, both artists lost their lives as a result, each being gunned down in separate drive-by shootings between September 1996 and March 1997.

2Pac and Biggie

Oddsmakers weigh in on Hip Hop’s Latest Conflict Drake vs. k-Dot

Today, we have a new beef lighting up social media. Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been dominating headlines and playlists with a series of back-and-forth diss tracks — the most recent being Lamar’s commercially released and critically acclaimed Not Like Us.

Kendrick Lamar

If you want to dive deep into where all of the drama began, The New York Times has got you covered, but just know that things are getting pretty serious between the two modern-day rap gods. So much so that BetOnline.ag is offering odds for a potential boxing match between the Canadian actor-turned-rapper and the Compton, California native.

As it stands, Drake and Lamar are sitting at an even -120, meaning a $100 bet on either fighter could net you $120 in a hypothetical fight.

Drake

They’ve also been offered the opportunity to settle things in the wrestling ring, courtesy of an invite from ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ himself.

“A little Sweet Chin Music goes a long way,” former WWE champion Shawn Michaels wrote on X. “Kendrick Lamar, you and Drake are formally invited to WWE NXT to settle this thing. I’m even offering my services to mediate.”

Shawn Michael Invites Drake and Kendrick Lamar to WWE

If they were to compete under the WWE banner, Drake would be a -200 favorite while Lamar sits as a +150 underdog.

UFC star Derrick Lewis hints at WWE move, reveals finishing move plan: ‘I like taking off my shorts’

Derrick Lewis reveals plan for WWE move I like taking off my shorts for finishing moveDerrick Lewis is open to becoming a WWE wrestler once his MMA career is over in the UFC. Lewis…

Derrick Lewis reveals plan for WWE move I like taking off my shorts for finishing move

Derrick Lewis is open to becoming a WWE wrestler once his MMA career is over in the UFC.

Lewis has been in the UFC since 2014 and is a fan favorite as he holds the record for most knockouts in UFC history. With ‘The Black Beast’ being 39, his future in MMA is coming to an end, and according to Lewis, he has been in talks wit the WWE about a potential move there.

Derrick Lewis signs new 8 fight deal to stay in the UFC
Mandatory Credit: Josh Hedges – Zuffa LLC

“Yeah, we are actually in talks right now and we’ve been talking for a few months now,” Lewis said at UFC St. Louis media day (via talkSport). “I was supposed to go down there in February to check everything out.”

Not only is Lewis interested in wrestling in WWE, but he already has his finishing move ready.

“It had to be something like Rikishi. You might see it man, somehow I like taking off my shorts, so we might see something like that,” Lewis said.

Derrick Lewis
Photo Credit: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Before Lewis can make an appearance in WWE, he will continue his MMA career, but due to his personality, he would be quite a character for them.

Derrick Lewis vows to do something special at UFC St. Louis

Derrick Lewis is set to headline UFC St. Louis on Saturday against Rodrigo Nascimento.

Lewis enters the bout as the betting favorite and ‘The Black Beast’ vows to do something special on Saturday night to get the win.

Derrick Lewis
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 18: Derrick Lewis prepares to fight Chris Daukaus in their heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 18, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

“I want to do something special. I’ve been working on it on my in my garage. My coach don’t know nothing about this. So what I’m about to throw out the first minute of my fight, my coach don’t have nothing to do with it. So if you all see me throw something crazy, just know it wasn’t my coaches idea. It’s my idea. That’s how good I’m feeling right now,” Lewis said.

Lewis enters the bout coming off a decision loss to Jailton Almeida and is 1-4 in his last five fights.