Here we are again. The UFC has been sold, and it’s legitimately happening this time around.
According to 8 News Now in Las Vegas, which will air portions of a sit-down interview with Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White on Monday morning, papers were signed on Saturday to transfer majority ownership to a group consisting of the William Morris Endeavor (WME), International Management Group (IMG), and private equity firm MSD.
The $4 billion dollar deal isn’t a 100% sale, with the Fertittas and Dana White retaining a small percentage of ownership. Additionally, White will remain in the role of UFC President under the new ownership group, while Lorenzo Fertitta will relinquish his position as chairman after a six to eight week transition period.
Here’s some more on Twitter from 8 News Now reporter Chris Maathius, who interviewed both men for a piece to air in the morning:
Largest sale in history of sports. #UFC sold for 4 billion to WME-IMG and MSD capital. Fertittas and White small % pic.twitter.com/b7Fj0ZXs4x
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
@danawhite L. Fertitta talk exclusively with @8NewsNow about 4-billion dollar sale. Largest in the history of sports pic.twitter.com/ZBhzbsxskZ
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
#UFC sold. It's Time!! Papers signed Saturday. 4-billion price tag Dana stays on HQ Vegas Exclusively on #8NN pic.twitter.com/DwkW8j2t02
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
@thekingfil not 100% buyout maintain small percentage Dana smaller % but stays in as promoter
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
Official confirmation coming from #UFC in the morning. @8NewsNow sat down with @danawhite and L Fertitta and will share into at 5 am #8NN
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
You'll hear from those with direct knowledge of the sale at 5am on @8NewsNow
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
Penick’s Analysis: After weeks of denials and obfuscation, the deal is indeed going through. The Fertitta’s cash out likely most of their 80+% stake in the organization, earning a massive profit off their $2 million purchase of the organization back in 2001. With Fertitta helping transition into the new ownership group and White staying on, there’s not likely to be a ton of noticeable change in things in the immediate future, but we could wind up seeing a very different future for the organization and the sport here over the next several years. We’ll have much more reaction to this both this week and as the weeks and months stretch on, but for now the sale is final.
[Photo (c) Jayne Kamin-Oncea via USA Today Sports]
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