UFC sold for 4 Billion Dollars!

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been sold to WME-IMG for $4 billion.

The talent and sports agency WME-IMG confirmed the deal to purchase the mixed martial arts organisation on Monday morning.

A statement from the agency read: “WME-IMG, which has a proven track record of building leading sports brands, will focus on accelerating the sport’s popularity and presence around the world. Silver Lake Partners and KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) will join WME-IMG as new strategic investors, along with MSD Capital, L.P. and MSD Partners, L.P. which will provide preferred equity financing.”

UFC chairman and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta will step down from his position but both he and fellow co-owner and brother Frank will retain a minority interest in the organisation.

WME-IMG co-CEOs Ariel Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell said in a statement: “We’ve been fortunate over the years to represent UFC and a number of its remarkable athletes.