The number one business story of the year was the UFC-Fox deal as mixed martial arts entered the mainstream with its 7 year, $90 million television rights deal. The deal was an upgrade from its $35 million a year deal with Spike TV. The longtime relationship between the UFC-Spike relationship deteriorated this year with passive […]
UFC
MetroPCS becomes a UFC sponsor
The UFC announced that MetroPCS will be the exclusive wireless sponsor of the UFC. The deal makes the second sponsor the UFC has picked up this month. Via UFC press release: MetroPCS will be integrated within UFC’s digital media assets and will produce exclusive content that will be distributed across several MetroPCS channels, including metropcs.com, MetroVISION, MetroSTUDIO and […]
UFC 141 salaries disclosed
MMA Junkie reports the salaries for tonight’s event. Brock Lesnar leads the list of fighters with $400,000 with no win bonus. The salaries were disclosed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission today.Alistair Overeem is second on the wage list with $264,285.71 to show and $121,428.57 win bonus. The remainder of the card is as follows (via […]
11 for 11: No. 2 Zuffa buys Strikeforce
The second biggest business story of the year shook the state of MMA. In March, Zuffa purchased its biggest rival, Strikeforce. It was reported that the purchase price was $40 million which included some debt repayment by Zuffa for Strikeforce. The deal occurred as Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, main financial backer of Strikeforce, wanted to […]
11 for 11: No. 3 Zuffa offers its fighters insurance
This year Zuffa offered its 400 fighters in the UFC and Strikeforce health insurance beginning this past June. Zuffa is paying the premiums for all of its fighters under contract. The accident-insurance coverage covers up to $50,000 (annually) of medical costs for each fighter. Its an unprecedented move to cover fighters and its a sign […]