UFC has been sold for £3.1 billion ($4 billion) in a deal that is expected to be officially announced on Monday. The sale is the largest in sports franchise history.
The New York Times and CBS affiliate KLAS reported late on Sunday night that the new owners will be talent agency WME-IMG, who represent music artists across all genres, actors, writers and more.
Dana White is set to stay as president of the company, and he told ESPN that his responsibilities with day-to-day operations won’t change; “president, owner, working my ass off. Just doing it without my best friend and partners for 20 years.”
He went on to describe the sale as ‘very’ bittersweet, but assured fans they have nothing to worry about with the move.
“Exact opposite,” White said. “Sport is going to the next level.”
WME co-CEO Ari Emmanuel said; “We’ve been honoured to have UFC and a number of its athletes as clients and couldn’t be happier to take our relationship to this next level as the organisation’s owner and operating partner.”
Dana White and the Fertitta brothers bought the franchise in 2001 for £1.5m.
