A rumored UFC sale is on the verge of being completed according to multiple sources after two groups bid $4.1 billion for the company.
ESPN were the first to report the news, stating that the two groups are each bidding to control 100% of the company, which is currently 80% owned by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, with Flash Entertainment also having a 10% stake and Dana White holding around 9%.
The two groups bidding for the UFC are believed to be WME-IMG (in conjunction with the Dalian Wanda Group), and China Media Capital.
One of the investers contributing to the WME bid is reportedly the Kraft Group, who already own the NFL and soccer teams, the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, while another is Tencent Holdings out of China, who are one of the top 10 biggest internet companies in the world.
China Media Capital have also been making sporting acquisitions of late, including paying out $1.3 billion for China’s top soccer league, while they were also reported to have been sizing up a potential stake in Formula One earlier this year.
If the deal goes through that’s almost certain to spell the end for The Fertitta brothers time at the helm in the UFC, though it’s been suggested that Dana White may well remain with the company.
