Rumor: UFC in talks with China Media Capital, asking $6 billion

Welcome to our Community
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Feel free to Sign Up today.
Sign up

Silverball

Member
Feb 24, 2015
4,319
6,748
I wasn't saying there would be a name change. I can see why you thought that with my 'myspace to facebook' comment. What I was referring to was how people fled Myspace for Facebook shortly after News Corp (parent company to Fox News) purchased Myspace in 2005.
Myspace had other issues as well.





 

Silverball

Member
Feb 24, 2015
4,319
6,748
A mysterious Dagestani billionaire wanted to buy a stake in the UFC


Ziyavudin Magomedov, one of the wealthiest men in Russia, was interested in buying a stake of the UFC. Karim Zidan delved into his interesting and controversial background and history of conflict with Russian President Putin.

Amidst rumours that the UFC is in talks to sell the promotion to China Media Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm based in Shanghai, a Russian oligarch revealed that he was close to purchasing a stake of the promotion himself.


Ziyavudin Magomedov, a Dagestani billionaire who is a major investor in Fight Nights Global, appeared to be interested in "UFC shares." Negotiations took place but eventually fizzled, according to Fight Nights promoter Kamil Gadzhiev.


"Indeed, the desire was there," Gadzhiev told MatchTV. "I'm not talking about the amount of the package, but the negotiations were conducted. But this is a case of days gone by. Today we have a new interesting task: to develop Fight Nights to the level of the highest international requirements."



View: https://www.instagram.com/p/BEbmuP5v92F/?taken-by=khabib_nurmagomedov


Read More: A mysterious Dagestani billionaire wanted to buy a stake in the UFC

 

StillReal

My name is Mark.
Mar 19, 2016
1,365
1,834
I don't see them selling anytime soon.

Fuck if they do that would be insane for the world of MMA. Not sure if it would be a disaster or a miracle. I guess it depends who bought.
 

mysticmac

First 1025
Oct 18, 2015
16,036
18,513
This deal fell through in the past 24 hours. CMC was willing to deal at a $6B valuation, but now that Conor has retired, they've dropped their valuation to $6M.

And Dana claims Mystic is not a needle mover.
 
Last edited:

Haulport

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
3,062
4,165
Zero chance anyone purchases the UFC for 6 billion. Anyone who has $6 bill to throw around are going to be EXTREMELY good numbers people (as every VC I've ever met is) and would see it is not worth more than $3billion tops.
 

Haulport

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
3,062
4,165
I don't see them selling anytime soon.

Fuck if they do that would be insane for the world of MMA. Not sure if it would be a disaster or a miracle. I guess it depends who bought.
At this point any change would be good imo...
 

StillReal

My name is Mark.
Mar 19, 2016
1,365
1,834
At this point any change would be good imo...
That is much easier said. Dana White and the Fertittas cared enough about the sport to buy it when it was absolutely nothing and in massive debt. Why would a foreign company with no previous connection to MMA respect the fighters anymore than Zuffa has?

(Not defending Zuffa, they've made countless trash decisions. I just worry that it could become even worse than it is without the proper ownership.)
 

FadeToBlack

Rear Naked Poke
Mar 15, 2015
1,461
2,616
I'm pretty sure Dana would stay on after the sale, the guy knows the ropes better than Fedor, with Lorenzo as a consultant for a couple years. I'm not a succession planning expert, but I bet you wouldn't notice a huge change right away.
 

Haulport

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
3,062
4,165
That is much easier said. Dana White and the Fertittas cared enough about the sport to buy it when it was absolutely nothing and in massive debt. Why would a foreign company with no previous connection to MMA respect the fighters anymore than Zuffa has?

(Not defending Zuffa, they've made countless trash decisions. I just worry that it could become even worse than it is without the proper ownership.)
Because they may have a better concept of how to sustain a sold business? You don't need to love an industry to manage it well. You need to be a capable and respectable general manager. The product the UFC presents bores me out of my mind to the point that I have lost about 85% of y interest in this sport.