COMPANY INFO
The official company name is UFC Holdings, LLC, founded in 1993. The founders are Art Davie, Bob Meyrowitz, Campbell McLaren, David Isaacs, John Milius, and Rorion Gracie. The company has approximately 400 employees as of 2016. Its website is www.ufc.com. UFC operates in the mixed martial arts and streaming media industries. UFC is the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion company, producing global pay-per-view sports events and digital content. It showcases fights across multiple martial arts disciplines and has grown into a global multi-billion-dollar enterprise under the ownership of TKO Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company. Founded in 1993 by Art Davie, Bob Meyrowitz, Campbell McLaren, David Isaacs, John Milius, and Rorion Gracie, UFC operates at the intersection of mixed martial arts and streaming media. Headquartered in Enterprise, Nevada, with additional training and R&D centers in Shanghai and Mexico City, UFC delivers global pay-per-view sporting events and a wide range of digital content. As of 2016, UFC employed around 400 people and is a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings under the Endeavor Group Holdings umbrella.
Since its founding, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) funding history has been marked by several high-profile rounds and major strategic investments. To date, UFC has raised a total of $5.44 billion across three main rounds, including transformative investments and two pivotal ownership changes. The company’s funding rounds reflect a focus on private equity, venture capital, and mergers/acquisitions, culminating most recently in the 2023 merger with WWE to form TKO Group Holdings. The UFC funding strategy underscores its evolution from a niche sports enterprise to a global entertainment powerhouse, with a diversified investor base and robust financial backing.
In September 2023, UFC merged with WWE to create TKO Group Holdings, a publicly-traded entity majority owned by Endeavor. The merger aims to unlock synergies between MMA and pro wrestling, expand global reach, and capitalize on media, licensing, and event opportunities.
In 2021, Endeavor consolidated its ownership of UFC by buying out the remaining stakeholders at a $1.7 billion valuation. This move further strengthened Endeavor’s hold over UFC and set the stage for strategic expansion, media partnership evolution, and increased operational integration.
The major acquisition in 2016 saw UFC purchased by an investment consortium led by Endeavor (then WME-IMG), Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital for $4.025 billion. This round was a turning point, providing UFC with significant private equity backing, professionalizing operations, and fueling global growth.
This round involved a single venture investment of an undisclosed amount. While details are limited, this funding contributed to ongoing operational expansion and strategic initiatives.
Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment leader, has been central to UFC’s funding and ownership since 2016. As the primary shareholder, Endeavor has driven UFC’s international expansion, media partnerships, and, most recently, the TKO Group Holdings merger.
Fertitta Enterprises, owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, played a foundational role as early owners and investors, helping to shape UFC’s growth and professionalization during its pivotal years.
CDIB Capital International is a private equity investor known for backing high-growth enterprises. As a UFC investor, CDIB Capital provided financial resources to fuel UFC’s operational and global ambitions.
Flash Entertainment, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s government, invested in UFC to enable expansion into the Middle East and heighten UFC’s presence in international markets, leveraging regional expertise and networks.
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