The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest promotion in mixed martial arts, but it appears as though the UFC could find itself under new ownership in the near future.
According to reports from ESPN.com, the company is in talks to sell the promotion and could be in advanced talks with a handful of potential buyers. With a valuation of $3.5-4 billion, companies like WME/IMG, China Media Capital, Blackstone Group, and Dalian Wanda are expected to be in the hunt.
Reports of a potential sale initially surfaced months ago, when Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden indicated China Media Capital could be a potential buyer. Back then, the reported valuation was around $6 billion, so the UFC has obviously dropped its price tag.
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/710510170061799424
“As a private company, we don’t discuss speculation or rumors related to our business,” UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sholler told ESPN.
Considering the UFC is coming off of its most profitable year and there are upcoming shows that will include UFC 200, the companies New York debut and the returns of superstars Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey to the Octagon, there could be no better time for the folks at Zuffa to bow out while the time is right.
It will be interesting to follow along with the developments in this story over the next few months.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
