The UFC is categorically denying Monday’s report from Jeremy Botter at FloCombat.com that a bid has been accepted by owners Zuffa for the sale of the organization.
UFC officials sent an internal memo to employees following the report to reiterate that point (below via MMAJunkie.com):
“A report today by FloCombat.com indicating that the company has been sold is false. This follows other false speculation in the press recently.
“Such misrepresentation of facts in the media negatively impacts our business, staff members and athletes. We have instructed our attorneys to investigate and take all appropriate legal actions against the parties publishing and contributing to these false stories.
“With International Fight Week and the historic UFC 200 rapidly approaching, we look forward to once again delivering a series of events that our fans won’t soon forget. We appreciate your hard work, diligence and commitment, and thank you for your focus as we continue to take the sport to new heights.”
Penick’s Analysis: Threatening legal action over a report that is far from malicious and which, with multiple confirmed sources, should be reported, shows a continued misunderstanding of the job of media in the sports world. Now, if the story turns out to be false entirely, then Botter was burned by trusted sources, and that’s a different situation which still does not leave one open to legal action if there’s retractions, corrections, new information, etc. If the story winds up being true and a sale comes to fruition, then it’s the UFC who is flat out lying and spreading falsehoods because they want to control the narrative. This will play out in time, and if the report winds up not being true we’ll know by no sale happening. If it goes the other way the UFC here will come off very poorly.
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