Who Bought UFC and What Is the Current Ownership Structure
The UFC is owned by TKO Group Holdings, which operates as the public parent company for UFC and WWE. TKO Group Holdings was formed after a merger between UFC parent company Zuffa and WWE, with the combined entity trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TKO. The structure places UFC under the same corporate umbrella as WWE, while Zuffa remains the controlling entity behind the scenes. For a broader overview of the corporate structure, see the official TKO Group Holdings investor relations page TKO Group Holdings Investor Relations.
Before TKO Group Holdings, UFC was owned by Zuffa, a sports and entertainment holding company that was controlled by the Las Vegas-based Fertitta brothers, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III. Zuffa acquired UFC in 2001, and over the following years built it into a global brand. In 2016, Zuffa sold a majority stake to a group led by China-based WME-IMG, later renamed Endeavor, with additional investment from Silver Lake Partners and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. Endeavor subsequently took UFC public through a direct listing before the merger with WWE created TKO Group Holdings.
What Is the Current Corporate Parent Company of UFC
TKO Group Holdings is the current corporate parent company of UFC, and it also owns WWE and other related businesses. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and operates as a publicly traded entity on the New York Stock Exchange. TKO Group Holdings manages UFC events, media rights, and fighter contracts while integrating WWE content and live events under one corporate umbrella.
Under TKO Group Holdings, UFC continues to operate as a distinct brand with its own leadership, event calendar, and athlete contracts. The company has pursued international expansion, new media deals, and technology investments to grow UFC's audience and revenue streams. TKO Group Holdings regularly reports financial results, event metrics, and strategic priorities in its quarterly earnings releases and annual filings U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Filings.
How Much Did the Latest UFC Ownership Deals Involve
The 2016 sale of a majority stake in UFC to the group led by WME-IMG, Silver Lake Partners, and KKR valued the company at roughly $4 billion. The deal gave the new owners control of UFC while keeping Zuffa as a minority stakeholder, and it marked a shift toward institutional and private equity ownership in major combat sports.
The later merger that created TKO Group Holdings combined UFC and WWE into a single publicly traded company, with Endeavor holding a significant stake in the new entity. The combined company aimed to leverage UFC and WWE's media rights, live events, and global fan bases to create a larger sports and entertainment platform. Financial details of the merger terms have been disclosed in TKO Group Holdings regulatory filings and investor presentations Forbes Business Coverage.