UFC Reportedly Has 2 Offers over $4 Billion to Buy Company

The UFC reportedly could have new owners in the near future.   

Citing sources, Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reported on Thursday that bidding to buy the entire company “is drawing closer to an end” between two groups—WME-IMG and China Media Capital. Rovell said both “had similar bids in the $4.1 billion range.”

This comes after Rovell reported in May that UFC owners were “in advanced talks to sell the business” for a bid that was “expected to be for a valuation between $3.5 and $4 billion.”

Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta are brothers who set up the company Zuffa. Zuffa purchased the UFC in 2001 for $2 million, so a bid of more than $4 billion would be a significant windfall. Rovell said Zuffa owns approximately 80 percent of the company, while Abu Dhabi’s Flash Entertainment owns 10 percent (which it bought in 2010).

FloSports' Jeremy Botter offered a detailed look at the potential sale in a series of tweets and noted, "the potential selling price, if accepted, makes UFC the most valuable sporting franchise in the world": 

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Am told the highest bidding group for 100% of UFC 'exceeded the asking price.' It’s near $4.19 billion. Bid expected to be accepted. I’m led to believe the highest bid came from WME-IMG/Dalian Wanda Group/The Kraft Group/Tencent Holdings plus other minor partners. All current partners would cash out. But White would be given 6-7% of new company to continue his role. ...The potential new owners are happy to allow things to continue to run the way they have. No drastic changes outside of Lorenzo/Frank gone. 

"

UFC President Dana White also owns part of the UFC and “is expected to be asked to stay in some capacity should a sale go through,” per Rovell. 

However, according to Botter, White denied recent reports of the potential sale in a text, saying, "That would be amazing but people are just making s--t up. It’s insane!!"

While Rovell listed the two bidders on Thursday, he did point out they are still looking to finalize the way they would finance the sale. WME-IMG is bidding “in conjunction with Dalian Wanda Group” and is reportedly looking for investors to contribute.

Rovell said the Kraft Group was among those investors who would chip in for WME-IMG. The Kraft Group also owns the NFL's New England Patriots and MLS' New England Revolution.

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk pointed out Patriots owner Robert Kraft “could be putting money into the pockets of a future competitor” because there has been some discussion that the Fertitta brothers are interested in purchasing an NFL team. Smith said they “have lifelong ties to Las Vegas” and could make an offer to Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis in an effort to move the team to Las Vegas.

Botter provided some more insight on the Fertitta's interest in relocating the Raiders: 

In terms of the sale going through, Dave Meltzer of MMA Fighting noted White appeared on The Dan Patrick Show last month and said the UFC was not up for sale and was instead potentially expanding into other countries such as China and Japan.

While the sale discussions will apparently continue, UFC 200 is scheduled for July 9 in Las Vegas and will feature Brock Lesnar against Mark Hunt.