Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019

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FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
Just a couple of TMMAC members ( FrankieNYC @FrankieNYC & Drake @Drake ) talking MMA business


Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019 | BJPenn.com

Every year, there seemingly will always be points in the year where those in the community who are baselessly making their claims for whatever reason that MMA, or more specifically the UFC, is not flourishing in the business department.


However, that continues to prove untrue when really looking deeper at the numbers. Even though without looking deeper we can still see the big deals that are being made…


To help take a look at things, BJPenn.com’s Drake Riggs caught up with an avid follower of combat sports’ business side who specializes in MMA and pro wrestling, FrankieNYC.


In 2018, the UFC didn’t happen to be the only big name MMA organization that found some good success. Their biggest competitor in North America, Bellator MMA, also had a big year by signing a deal with the streaming service known as DAZN.


“I believe they might be the biggest news of 2019 as far as MMA financials go,” FrankieNYC said. “With DAZN bringing $33M per year to Bellator ($100M, three year guarantee with a two year option), this should be their first year making a profit. That is extremely huge for MMA if it comes to fruition. MMA needs a financially sound alternative to UFC. It should also guarantee they do over $50M in revenue for the first time in history.”



More at Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019 | BJPenn.com
 

Bozy

OOHH YOU DIDNT KNOW!?
Feb 22, 2015
7,365
6,541
Hope Bellator has a good year. I enjoy their product for the most part.
 

Haulport

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
3,062
4,165
Outside of both of us being Caucasian, I don't think we have anything in common.
Does he even follow MMA?
Nice try to sidestep Sam!!!

They have MMA peeps on all the time and Jim does a podcast with Matt Serra!


; )
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
This made my night ...

Thanks. Really impressed that you got the Bellator DAZN deal right. Haven't seen anyone else accurately report it, both number of years and amount (although it might be even for a little more than 33 mil a year) I have an article on Bellator's finances that should be posted any day now.

John S. Nash
 

Muridae83

Posting Machine
Nov 3, 2016
1,338
1,502
Just a couple of TMMAC members ( FrankieNYC @FrankieNYC & Drake @Drake ) talking MMA business


Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019 | BJPenn.com

Every year, there seemingly will always be points in the year where those in the community who are baselessly making their claims for whatever reason that MMA, or more specifically the UFC, is not flourishing in the business department.


However, that continues to prove untrue when really looking deeper at the numbers. Even though without looking deeper we can still see the big deals that are being made…


To help take a look at things, BJPenn.com’s Drake Riggs caught up with an avid follower of combat sports’ business side who specializes in MMA and pro wrestling, FrankieNYC.


In 2018, the UFC didn’t happen to be the only big name MMA organization that found some good success. Their biggest competitor in North America, Bellator MMA, also had a big year by signing a deal with the streaming service known as DAZN.


“I believe they might be the biggest news of 2019 as far as MMA financials go,” FrankieNYC said. “With DAZN bringing $33M per year to Bellator ($100M, three year guarantee with a two year option), this should be their first year making a profit. That is extremely huge for MMA if it comes to fruition. MMA needs a financially sound alternative to UFC. It should also guarantee they do over $50M in revenue for the first time in history.”



More at Financial states of UFC and Bellator: Looking back at 2018, forward to 2019 | BJPenn.com
havent seen much about Fincancial reports about UFC's 2018... but considering certain decision they made in the later part of the year i can only assume they werent close to certain numbers they were suppose to reach. I actually think they have bigger problems then most think. Sure the ESPN deal is huge and they have a few stars to help PPV numbers but they havent cultivated younger talent and alot of known stars have gone into pension... also they will have increasingly though time filling up certain cards unless they make less cards in 2019. Im more positive and interested in Bellators 2019.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
havent seen much about Fincancial reports about UFC's 2018... but considering certain decision they made in the later part of the year i can only assume they werent close to certain numbers they were suppose to reach. I actually think they have bigger problems then most think. Sure the ESPN deal is huge and they have a few stars to help PPV numbers but they havent cultivated younger talent and alot of known stars have gone into pension... also they will have increasingly though time filling up certain cards unless they make less cards in 2019. Im more positive and interested in Bellators 2019.
There is zero argument that UFC & Bellator have less interest now than they had.
But in UFC's case the company structure has changed & they make more of less.
Bellator looks to be having a similar year (as i discussed) & I agree a big story is Bellator in 2019.

The crazy thing is if UFC was as popular as it was in 2015, they might break 1b in revenue in 2019.
That is insane
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
What’s your Twitter handle?
Believe it or not

I don't have one

I deleted it after I decided to stop doing media as a PT job in March 2018.

I am a fan of twitter for news, but not interaction.

I am on here & SD & that is enough

if someone throws big money at me, I'd have to do it again, but my wheelhouse is so specialized that at most I could only bring content a few times a month
 

Andrewsimar Palhardass

Women, dinosaurs, and the violence of the octagon.
Jan 8, 2016
5,234
6,822
havent seen much about Fincancial reports about UFC's 2018... but considering certain decision they made in the later part of the year i can only assume they werent close to certain numbers they were suppose to reach. I actually think they have bigger problems then most think. Sure the ESPN deal is huge and they have a few stars to help PPV numbers but they havent cultivated younger talent and alot of known stars have gone into pension... also they will have increasingly though time filling up certain cards unless they make less cards in 2019. Im more positive and interested in Bellators 2019.
I agree with a lot of this, but there is a good batch of new young talent coming in.
 

Muridae83

Posting Machine
Nov 3, 2016
1,338
1,502
I agree with a lot of this, but there is a good batch of new young talent coming in.
ye but in most cases UFC has lost the plot and cant market them to become new stars. Not all can do it themselves and this "market urself" bs that UFC is doing now will sooner or later backfire.