Everything You Need to Know About the UFC, WWE TKO $21B Merger
On Tuesday September 12, Endeavor - the UFC's parent company - announced the closing of it's $21 billion merger with the WWE. The UFC and WWE are now officially under the same umbrella, aptly named TKO Group Holdings. It is now live on the New York Stock Exchange.
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Endeavor owns the majority 51% share, with WWE shareholders owning 49%, and TKO's valuation floats around $21 billion.
TKO was founded by WWE executive chairman Vince McMahon, and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. McMahon will serve as a chairman to TKO, and Emanuel will be the CEO.
Dana White Promoted to CEO of the UFC, Role Stays the Same
With the merge, former UFC President Dana White has received a promotion to Chief Executive Officer of the UFC.
According to UFC senior executive vice president and chief operating officer Lawrence Epstein, White will still run the day-to-day operations of the UFC. As well as this, no "massive changes" are in order, and WWE chief content officer Paul Levesque will remain the head of creative for the WWE.
As far as reports go, there won't be any immediate creative cross-over between the promotions.
TKO Chairman Vince McMahon: UFC/WWE Merge Serves More Than a Billion People
In his official merger announcement, Vince McMahon announced that "together we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity.
"...I, along with the current WWE management team, look forward to working closely with Ari and the Endeavor and UFC teams to take the businesses to the next level."
UFC VP & COO: TKO Wants UFC Fans and WWE Fans Under the Same Umbrella
Lawrence Epstein told ESPN, "Where we want to get is where every UFC fan is a WWE fan and every WWE fan is a UFC fan."
Whether this sentiment is shared by UFC and WWE fans remains yet to be seen. What the merger does do it blur the line between the two promotions, now athletes may have a more frictionless transition between the sports.
WWE President: WWE a Good Retirement Plan for Big Name UFC Fighters
WWE President Nick Khan told ESPN that "UFC fighters are going to stay focused on the UFC and WWE superstars obviously do something different in our ring." Though, Khan registered his interest in big-name fighters having a "longer life" in the WWE should they decide to hang up their gloves:
"You also see in the UFC people with big personalities who, once their UFC run is done --- ...Could those people have a longer life at WWE, an extended life with TKO? We think so."
"Where we want to get is where every UFC fan is a WWE fan and every WWE fan is a UFC fan."