MMAterial Facts (01/11/10)

MMAterial Facts is a new feature on MMAPayout.com that wraps up the days news in the business of MMA.

• Investment Arm of Abu Dhabi Government Buys 10% of UFC
• WEC 46 salaries: Urijah Faber, Mike Brown top earners from $272K payroll
• “WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson” draws reported 10,027 attendees for $550K gate
• Meet Dana White, the King of Mixed Martial Arts
• WEC Likely to Visit Canada in Summer, “Still Exploring Options” for Trip to Mexico

INVESTMENT ARM OF ABU DHABI GOVERNMENT BUYS 10% OF UFC

An Abu Dhabi-owned entertainment promotion company has bought a 10 per cent stake in the Ultimate Fighting Championship for an undisclosed sum…UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta told The Associated Press that the deal with Flash Entertainment, a subsidiary owned by the emirate’s government, was done to create increased value for UFC and help the mixed martial arts league expand in the Middle East and Asia. (TSN,Canada)

WEC 46 salaries: Urijah Faber, Mike Brown top earners from $272K payroll

Despite taking rare spots outside of the main event, former champions Urijah Faber ($52,000) and Mike Brown ($38,000) were the top earners at this past weekend’s WEC 46 event…The total payroll for the Jan. 10 event, which took place at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., was $272,000. (MMAJunkie)

“WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson” draws reported 10,027 attendees for $550K gate

Initial reports from WEC officials indicate the WEC’s third trip to ARCO Arena in Sacrmento, Calif., earned another solid live gate…At the evening’s post-event press conference, WEC general manager Reed Harris reported that Sunday’s “WEC 46: Varner vs. Henderson” event drew 10,027 fans for a live gate of $550,000. (MMAJunkie)

Meet Dana White, the King of Mixed Martial Arts

Beneath a big tent hastily erected on a roof behind the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, a collection of modern gladiators gathers behind a portable stage, twenty-two broken noses and sets of cauliflower ears standing in a reverent semicircle around a familiar pug — the former bar bouncer, hotel bellhop, and personal fitness trainer who has, over the past decade, helped to turn the Ultimate Fighting Championship into a $1 billion business with fans across the globe. (Esquire Magazine)

WEC Likely to Visit Canada in Summer, “Still Exploring Options” for Trip to Mexico

World Extreme Cagefighting is primed for global expansion in 2010, but the promotion will likely head north of the border prior to heading south. …WEC vice president Peter Dropick today told MMAjunkie.com that the organization is currently targeting a summer visit to Calgary, Alberta, Canada….”It looks like we’ll be going to Canada – most likely Calgary – in the summer,” Dropick said. “It’s not 100 percent confirmed, but that looks like a really strong possibility. (MMAJunkie)

QUICK HITS

• UFC Fight Night 20 play by play and live results (MMAJunkie)
  
• REPORTS: BROCK LESNAR WILL FIGHT AGAIN (MMAWeekly)
• Jose Aldo vs. Urijah Faber set; title fight could head WEC’s first-ever pay per view (MMAJunkie)
• Henderson Unifies WEC Title; Faber Victorious (Sherdog)
• 3 Bouts Booked for UFC’s Versus Debut (Sherdog)
• Lashley to Fight on CBS in April (Heavy)
• Rising Star: Marloes Coenen (Showtime)
• FCF Women’s MMA Grand Prix Roster & Brackets (MMARising)

TV LISTING

• WEC 46 Replay at 8 PM ET on Versus (01/13/10)
• Inside MMA (Guests: Dan Gable, Guy Mezger, Scott Casber and Pat Miletich) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (01/15/10)
• HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (Ruslan Karaev’s title run in the Asia GP 08′) on HDNet at 8 PM ET. (01/15/10)
• HDNet Fights Presents Best of 2009 K-1 World MAX on HDNet at 10 PM ET (01/15/10)
• Best of Pride Fighting Championships (Wanderlei Silva vs Rampage Jackson) at 10 PM ET on Spike.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Strikeforce Miami: Diaz vs Zaromskis on Showtime at 10 PM ET/PT (01/30/10)
• FCF 39: Women’s 135 lbs Grand Prix: Opening Round from Shawnee, Oklahoma (01/30/10)
• KOTC: Toryumon from Okinawa, Japan on PPV (01/30/10)