Endeavor CEO Reveals “Rare Opportunity” for $21 Billion-Worth UFC-WWE Merger That Can Create “Significant Additional Value”

Back in April, UFC’s parent company, Endeavor made a great business deal. Endeavor bought WWE for $9.3 billion. Now, the UFC and WWE merger will form a new company known as TKO Group Holdings. The CEO of Endeavor, Ari Emanuel, has great plans for the new merger. The new company name will be publicized on the stock exchange by the end of the year. The parent company of the UFC addressed the details regarding the formation of the new organization through CNBC.

Later, they also mentioned that the organization would have a TKO symbol. The authorities involved in the merger are also planning to operate the company under the TKO symbol on the New York Stock Exchange. The new company formed by merging the two great promotions will be worth more than $21 billion.

Ari Emanuel about the UFC-WWE merger

Endeavor bought UFC back in 2016. Now, the UFC is the world’s biggest MMA promotion. In April 2023, they acquired WWE to form a sports giant. The Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel talked about the intention behind the merger back in April, In a report from MMA Fighting, He said, “This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pure-play built for where the industry is headed.“

Talking further on the same topic, he added, “For decades, Vince and his team have demonstrated an incredible track record of innovation and shareholder value creation, and we are confident that Endeavor can deliver significant additional value for shareholders by bringing UFC and WWE together.”After the merger, it was decided that Ari Emanuel would become the CEO of the new company, and Vince McMahon would be the executive chairman. When it comes to the UFC, Dana White will remain as president, and Nick Khan will be president of World Wrestling Entertainment.

No possibility for a UFC-WWE crossover

Endeavor will hold 51 percent of the stake in TKO Group Holdings, and the WWE shareholders will manage the rest. Even though a new company is being formed, the UFC and WWE will function as two independent promotions under the same company. There won’t be a UFC versus WWE bout, as many were expecting.

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The UFC president, Dana White, came forward to explain that there won’t be any crossover between the UFC and WWE as both are entirely different from each other. WWE is scripted, and the major purpose of the wrestling promotion is entertainment, while the UFC aims for real fights. Hence, it was made clear that a crossover between the two promotions is not possible at all.

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