Company refutes UFC has been sold

MMA Junkie reports that Zuffa has sent an email to its employees refuting the story that the UFC has been sold.  Dave Sholler has made an official statement denying the report from FloCombat that the company has been purchased.

Sholler told MMA Junkie that, “FloCombat.com’s report indicating that the UFC has been sold is false.”

An internal email sent to Zuffa employees was obtained by Junkie addressing the rumors and report of the sale.  “A report today by FloComat.com indicating that the company has been sold is false,” read the email obtained by Junkie.  It went on to state that the company’s attorneys would “investigate and take all appropriate legal actions against the parties publishing and contributing to these false stories.”

The report stated that Zuffa had accepted a bid for $4.2 billion to sell the UFC.  No formal announcement has come forth despite the news that 4 entities had submitted bids to purchase the company late last week.

Payout Perspective:

This is semantics but it seems that the internal email refutes that the UFC has been sold.  The question is whether it will be sold.  The company has to cover itself at this point since the concern is that anything could unravel the deal (if the news is accurate).  The internal email and public denial is to ensure employees that their positions are secure.  As for whether lawyers for the UFC will come in to file a lawsuit against the alleged “false” report seems to be posturing on the part of the company.  Defamation would seemingly be the only claim the company might have although we do not have all of the facts at this point.