MMA News

Tag: TKO Group Holdings

  • UFC Owners Buy Into $9.9 Billion Las Vegas Raiders With Minority Ownership

    The influence of combat sports is stretching further into mainstream American sports, with key figures behind the UFC now securing a foothold in the NFL.

    TKO Group Holdings executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have officially been approved as minority investors in the Las Vegas Raiders, marking a notable crossover between the UFC’s parent company and one of the NFL’s most valuable franchises.

    Emanuel, who serves as CEO of TKO, has acquired a 1.4% stake in the team, while Shapiro, the company’s president and COO, has taken a 0.6% share. Their entry comes as part of a broader ownership reshuffle that has significantly boosted the Raiders’ valuation to around $9.9 billion.

    Despite the influx of new investors, controlling owner Mark Davis retains authority over the franchise, holding roughly a third of the team, which is the minimum required by league rules for a primary owner.

    One of the biggest shifts within the ownership structure involves Silver Lake executive Egon Durban, who has increased his stake to 22%, making him a central figure in the team’s long-term future. Durban is already deeply connected to TKO and Endeavor, serving as a major investor and board member, and is widely viewed as the leading candidate to take control of the Raiders should Davis ever decide to sell.

    The move also reflects a broader strategy tying TKO closer to Las Vegas. The city has long served as the home base for the UFC, while recent large-scale events, including WWE’s WrestleMania and major boxing cards, have further strengthened the company’s footprint in the market.

  • UFC Set to Host Events in Arizona as TKO Signs Three-Year Deal With State Alliance

    UFC Set to Host Events in Arizona as TKO Signs Three-Year Deal With State Alliance

    The UFC is heading to Arizona in a big way. TKO Group Holdings has announced a three-year agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring seven live events to the state — with UFC among the marquee properties set to compete there.

    The deal covers multiple TKO-owned brands, including UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing, and signals a long-term commitment to Arizona as a key market for live combat sports.

    UFC’s Role in the Partnership

    While TKO has not yet announced which specific UFC events will take place in Arizona, the scope of the deal — seven events over three years — suggests fight fans in the state can expect a regular presence from the promotion. Specific dates, venues, and ticket details are expected to be announced at a later date.

    Peter Dropick, TKO’s Executive Vice President of Event Development and Operations, made clear the company is invested in building something lasting in the region:

    “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state.”

    Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, said the partnership reflects Arizona’s ability to host major sports and entertainment events at the highest level.

    Part of a Growing Live Event Strategy

    TKO described the Arizona partnership as part of a broader push to formalize relationships with government and private entities across the country, securing dedicated markets for its live events pipeline.

    It’s a strategy that makes sense given UFC’s growing live event footprint. The promotion has increasingly leaned into multi-event market agreements to ensure consistent programming for fans outside of Las Vegas.

    TKO Group Holdings owns the UFC, WWE, and PBR outright, and holds a stake in Zuffa Boxing. The company also operates IMG and On Location, its sports marketing and experiential hospitality arms.

    TKO’s Bigger Business Picture

    The Arizona deal comes as TKO continues to post strong financial numbers. The company reported Q1 2026 revenue of $1.597 billion — a 26% increase year-over-year — underscoring the demand for live combat sports content across all of its properties.

    Arizona UFC fans won’t have to wait long for more details. Event announcements are expected in the coming months.

  • UFC Revenue Hits $1.5 Billion in 2025 with 57% Profit Margin

    UFC Revenue Hits $1.5 Billion in 2025 with 57% Profit Margin

    UFC delivered another year of strong financial performance in 2025, posting $1.502 billion in revenue and $851 million in Adjusted EBITDA — but for the first time since TKO Group Holdings was formed, the MMA organization was outpaced by its sister promotion WWE in both total revenue and raw profitability.

    TKO released its full year and fourth quarter 2025 earnings today, revealing the full scope of how the sports entertainment conglomerate performed across its properties.

    UFC’s 2025 Numbers

    UFC revenue grew 7%, or $96 million, year-over-year. The increase was led by a $62.9 million jump in partnerships and marketing revenue to $314.3 million for the year, driven by new sponsors and fee increases on existing deals. Media rights revenue grew $28.3 million to $907.7 million, reflecting contractual escalations on the promotion’s existing broadcast agreements.

    Live events and hospitality added another $12.5 million, reaching $232.9 million — a sign that UFC’s global touring schedule continues to command strong gate and site fee revenue.

    Adjusted EBITDA grew 6% to $851.0 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 57% — one of the highest of any major sports property in the world. UFC has long been the margin leader within TKO, and that remained true in 2025 even as WWE closed the gap significantly.

    WWE Overtook UFC for the First Time

    The headline from today’s report: WWE outpaced UFC in both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2025. WWE generated $1.709 billion in revenue — $207 million more than UFC — and posted $896.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA, clearing UFC by roughly $45 million.

    The reversal is largely attributable to WWE’s new media rights deals with Netflix (Monday Night Raw) and ESPN, which drove a $135 million increase in WWE’s media rights revenue in 2025. UFC’s media rights agreements, while extremely lucrative, didn’t see the same step-change in the same period.

    UFC still holds the superior margin profile at 57% versus WWE’s 52%, but the absolute dollar gap has closed dramatically from where it stood when TKO was first formed.

    Zuffa Boxing Launches as New Growth Driver

    TKO’s new boxing venture, Zuffa Boxing, officially launched in January 2026 and is already being positioned as a meaningful long-term growth engine for the company. President and COO Mark Shapiro noted the launch “sets the table for even further long term value creation” as TKO diversifies its combat sports portfolio beyond MMA.

    Boxing management and promotional fees are currently captured in TKO’s “Corporate and Other” segment, which saw revenue grow 17% to $199.1 million in 2025. That figure is expected to rise considerably as Zuffa Boxing matures and begins hosting major events.

    TKO’s Full Picture and 2026 Guidance

    On a consolidated basis, TKO generated $4.735 billion in revenue and $1.585 billion in Adjusted EBITDA in 2025 — a 47% EBITDA increase year-over-year. Free cash flow hit $1.159 billion. The company returned more than $1.3 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends during the year.

    For 2026, TKO is guiding to $5.675–$5.775 billion in revenue and $2.240–$2.290 billion in Adjusted EBITDA — roughly 20% top-line growth. The company also announced plans to launch up to $1 billion in new share repurchases beginning in March.

    CEO Ariel Emanuel cited long-term media rights agreements and operational strength as the foundation for TKO’s outlook. UFC remains one of the most profitable sports properties on the planet — but in 2025, it was WWE that grabbed the financial spotlight within the TKO portfolio.