Today it was officially announced that the UFC had sold. Price was reportedly four billion dollars, which would make it the largest sale in sports history. UFC president Dana White will stay. Lorenzo Fertitta will be stepping down as CEO. Lorenzo and his brother Frank III as well as White will maintain a minority ownership stake.
As always, Twitter reacted.
Largest sale in history of sports. #UFC sold for 4 billion to WME-IMG and MSD capital. Fertittas and White small % pic.twitter.com/b7Fj0ZXs4x
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) July 11, 2016
😃
— danawhite (@danawhite) July 11, 2016
Asked Dana White (@danawhite) if sale of the UFC is bittersweet. Response: VERY.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 11, 2016
I wonder what comes next…
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) July 11, 2016
Dana White on whether fans should be concerned with UFC switching ownership: Exact opposite. Sport is going to the next level.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 11, 2016
Dana White (@danawhite) on future involvement: Same. President, owner, working my ass off. Just doing it without my best friend and partner.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 11, 2016
I am honoured to have fought under the Fertitta regime! To have been mentored by these great people on this great business is a true honour!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 11, 2016
Congrats @DanaWhite & @LorenzoFertitta nice investment.
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) July 11, 2016
Last 5 days in MMA: Jones pulled from 200, 3 events, 2 title changes, record-breaking 200 happens, Lesnar returns, UFC sold. What a stretch.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 11, 2016
10 years ago I used to have debate people on merits of covering UFC. Today, it's the biggest sports org transaction in history. What a world
— Mike Chiappetta MMA (@MikeChiappetta) July 11, 2016
There are so many fighters, I don’t mind the mass email. I’ve had nothing but the best experience with the @UFC but excited for the future.
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) July 11, 2016
Lorenzo Fertitta on UFC experience, to @sports8, "I'm certainly not going to have any regrets."
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 11, 2016
UFC worth as much as Star Wars. Pretty damn crazy.
— Josh Samman (@JoshSamman) July 11, 2016
Pretty damn crazy is mixed martial arts.
