The WWE and the UFC are merging
It’s no surprise that the WWE was going to be acquired. WWE officials have discussed a possible sale of the company for the past year, as WWE CEO Nick Khan has been shopping the company around to prospective buyers. What did come as a surprise was who ultimately purchased the company.
It was announced this Monday after Wrestlemania 39 that Ari Emanuel’s group Endeavor, who also owns the UFC, has acquired the WWE. The agreement will see the WWE and the UFC merge under a new publicly traded company, which is not yet named, listed on the New York Stock Exchange as “TKO.” The transaction values the company at $21.4 billion, with the enterprise value of the UFC at $12.1 billion and WWE at $9.3 billion.
Ari Emanuel will serve as the CEO of the new company, while Vince McMahon will serve as the executive chairman. Vince is technically higher on the organizational chart than Dana White, who will continue to serve as the UFC president. With the merger of these two powerhouse brands, both sides expect to take their product to the next level. The next 12 months will be very telling.
Israel Adesanya’s mindset heading into UFC 287
Since becoming UFC champion in October 2019, Israel Adesanya has been criticized by many for coasting in a lot of his fights. This isn’t something that’s uncommon for fighters that become champions. We saw it happen with Jose Aldo and Georges St-Pierre, as well. Once they became champions, they took fewer risks, taking the most efficient path to victory had become the goal. Can you blame them? Fighters make a lot more money as long-reigning champions.
You can see the difference when looking at Adesanya’s two fights against Robert Whittaker. He steamrolled him in the first fight, whereas he just got by in the rematch. He said after the rematch that it was Whittaker’s job to take the belt from him. That’s the difference in mentality between a hunter and a fighter just trying to defend his throne. A hunter puts it all on the line and goes for the kill.
Adesanya says he’s back to being the hunter heading into his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 287. It’s now on Adesanya to go and take the belt from Pereira. When you’re fighting someone that’s already defeated you 3x, you know you have to be better than what you’ve been because what you’ve been hasn’t gotten the job done. Adesanya is one of the most intelligent fighters in the sport, and you can expect to see the best version of him at UFC 287.
https://twitter.com/MMACrazy/status/1644037273413992448
Quick Hits
- The UFC created new gloves to reduce eye pokes.
- Jake Paul will make an appearance on tonight’s PFL broadcast.
- Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez is in the works for UFC 290.
- BKFC believes that Francis Ngannou is asking for unrealistic money.
- Kayla Harrison has no idea who or when she’ll fight in 2023.
- Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Jailton Almeida will headline the May 13 UFC event.
- Belal Muhammad isn’t interested in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov.
- Jose Aldo is now being represented by Ali Abdelaziz.
- Eddie Alvarez wants to fight Nate Diaz in a bare-knuckle fight.
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