UFC Reportedly In Talks To Sell Company
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.
How do you see this situation playing out?
