UFC up for sale?

[Shaazzam]

I definitely have to think hard about owning an NFL team (assuming it's a halfway decent one) or the UFC. With the UFC, the Fertittas had ultimate authority and the ability to change the MMA landscape if they wanted to. With an NFL team, he'll be under a lot more scrutiny, a lot more rules and regulations from the governing body etc.

With the UFC, they kind of crushed their competition. With an NFL team they get to chase a championship. And they are sitting at the biggest of big boy tables for NA sports.

[NZB2323]

They also got a lot of criticism when they paid 2 million dollars for a bankrupt UFC when Pride was doing so well.

"I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn't buying anything. I was paying $2 million and they were saying 'What are you getting?'" Lorenzo Fertitta revealed to Fighter's Only magazine, recalling the lack of assets he acquired in the purchase. "And I said 'What you don't understand is I'm getting the most valuable thing that I could possibly have, which is those three letters: UFC. That is what's going to make this thing work. Everybody knows that brand, whether they like it or they don't like it, they react to it.'"

Billionaires become Billionaires by taking risks and bringing value to companies. The NFL is much more profitable than the UFC, and they probably want the challenge and satisfaction of winning a Superbowl.

[REDDzone]

Billionaires become Billionaires by taking risks and bringing value to companies.

...or in Frank and Lorenzo's case, inheriting a casino chain from daddy Fertitta.

[cowboyronnie]

They also got a lot of criticism when they paid 2 million dollars for a bankrupt UFC when Pride was doing so well.

"I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn't buying anything. I was paying $2 million and they were saying 'What are you getting?'" Lorenzo Fertitta revealed to Fighter's Only magazine, recalling the lack of assets he acquired in the purchase. "And I said 'What you don't understand is I'm getting the most valuable thing that I could possibly have, which is those three letters: UFC. That is what's going to make this thing work. Everybody knows that brand, whether they like it or they don't like it, they react to it.'"

Billionaires become Billionaires by taking risks and bringing value to companies. The NFL is much more profitable than the UFC, and they probably want the challenge and satisfaction of winning a Superbowl.

You have a lot of defense and sympathy for billionaires.

I'm growing suspicious that you yourself might be a dirty **** billionaire.

[NZB2323]

They also got a lot of criticism when they paid 2 million dollars for a bankrupt UFC when Pride was doing so well.

"I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn't buying anything. I was paying $2 million and they were saying 'What are you getting?'" Lorenzo Fertitta revealed to Fighter's Only magazine, recalling the lack of assets he acquired in the purchase. "And I said 'What you don't understand is I'm getting the most valuable thing that I could possibly have, which is those three letters: UFC. That is what's going to make this thing work. Everybody knows that brand, whether they like it or they don't like it, they react to it.'"

Billionaires become Billionaires by taking risks and bringing value to companies. The NFL is much more profitable than the UFC, and they probably want the challenge and satisfaction of winning a Superbowl.

You have a lot of defense and sympathy for billionaires.

I'm growing suspicious that you yourself might be a dirty **** billionaire.

I'm an E4 in the military. I make $23,994 a year, and I'm not saying that everything the Fertitta's do is right but they clearly did a good job of growing the worth of the UFC, and yeah REDD, they may have inherited casinos but how much have they matured in value since then? All I'm saying is that they could make a good investment with a NFL franchise.

[cowboyronnie]

Btw, Schaub saying that Dana is only around temporarily, Schaub has "sources".

[Headliner]

Well the Fertitta's need someone to be the GM of their football team.

[Jasen777]

Rogan is back for a year, only doing domestic PPV's. Wish they would dump Goldberg though.

[Nemesis21]

UFC lays off three executives,

http://mmajunkie.com/2016/10/ufc-layoffs-include-executives-garry-cook-marshall-zelaznik-and-ufc-asia-chief-ken-berger

[lilfishi22]

WME really is cleaning house. It does make sense if they are looking to change the culture of the UFC from a bros club to a legit professional organisation.

[REDDzone]

They should get rid of that dummy Marc Ratner, probably won't because he's in a weird scratch my back position with the commissions.

[Susan]

YA THOUGHT YA HAD A JOB BOY...AGUHHH!!!!!!

Stole this from Reddit but man, they're doing a number on that company.

Honestly, the UFC brand isn't THAT strong IMO. If Bellator can get cash and make a huge push right now, the UFC will be in massive trouble.

[REDDzone]

I thought I posted yesterday but can't find it. WME cleaned out UFC Canada (Tom Wright, etc.). Also said the new focus is domestic events as opposed to the previous focus on growing internationally.

[Jasen777]

The UFC still has like 95% of the top fighters. firing all of the executives won't change that. If the UFC struggles that doesn't necessarily help Bellator.

[Shaazzam]

I thought I posted yesterday but can't find it. WME cleaned out UFC Canada (Tom Wright, etc.). Also said the new focus is domestic events as opposed to the previous focus on growing internationally.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/new-ufc-ownership-lays-off-significant-number-employees/

MMAFighting reported Tuesday afternoon that between 60 and 80 of the approximately 350 UFC employees were expected to be laid off. Then, later that evening, MMAJunkie reported high-ranking UFC officials Garry Cook (the UFC’s chief global branding officer and head of international business development), Marshall Zelaznik (UFC’s chief content officer), Ken Berger (head of operations in Asia), and Jaime Pollack (head of operations in Latin America) were among those who lost their jobs.

The layoffs didn’t stop there.

Sportsnet has learned only two staff members from the UFC’s Canadian office, which is based in Toronto, survived the cuts. Among those let go Wednesday was Tom Wright, the UFC's director of operations for Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

[REDDzone]

This comes from Jeremy Botter so grain of salt, but apparently WME is going to cut TUF. Possibly immediately.

Also, 35 events next year. I believe that's a reduction. It will be interesting to see if that means cuts coming to the roster.

[Shaazzam]

Yeah, it's about time for TUF to die. Although this has easily been the best season in a really long time. And it's because these guys are **** good.

[Jasen777]

This comes from Jeremy Botter so grain of salt, but apparently WME is going to cut TUF. Possibly immediately.

Fox Sports would be about the only one upset with that.

[Jasen777]

It's been written that a reason WME paid so much for the UFC is because they're counting on the TV deal going up by a lot (like quadrupling). But I wonder if that money will be there. The TV industry in general is in major flux right now with fragmentation and cord cutting. Networks are starting to lose money on other sports deals. ESPN has lost 10 million subscribers over the last 3 years. College football people are concerned the days of ever increasing TV money are over.

The UFC may be getting more mainstream (though you could argue they're close to their ceiling now), but the TV money WME wants may not be there.

[phanman]

It's been written that a reason WME paid so much for the UFC is because they're counting on the TV deal going up by a lot (like quadrupling). But I wonder if that money will be there. The TV industry in general is in major flux right now with fragmentation and cord cutting. Networks are starting to lose money on other sports deals. ESPN has lost 10 million subscribers over the last 3 years. College football people are concerned the days of ever increasing TV money are over.

The UFC may be getting more mainstream (though you could argue they're close to their ceiling now), but the TV money WME wants may not be there.

Not to mention Fox was also trying to buy the UFC and got outbid by WME. That contract is coming up with Fox and maybe the salt has been rubbed in the wounds in regards to not renewing the TV contract since the UFC is looking or a substantial increase there. They are looking to increase the 115m previous deal to a staggering 450m.