Eye-watering: UFC sold for record $4 billion

UFC has been sold for $4 billion in a deal announced yesterday, making it the most expensive acquisition for any organisation in sporting history.

According to ESPN, talent agency WME-IMG revealed it is partnering with its owner Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and MSD Capital to take over the mixed martial arts company.

“We’ve been fortunate over the years to represent UFC and a number of its remarkable athletes,” said WME-IMG co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell in a statement.



The deal was confirmed by UFC president Dana White, who told ESPN that the sale was ‘bittersweet’. However, he said fans need not fear the changes in the sport after the sale.

“Exact opposite,” said White. “The sport is going to the next level.”



The sale is quite a story considering brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the organisation in 2000 for just $2 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2016.

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