MMA Odds and Ends for Monday: UFC sold, Lorenzo Fertitta to step down & Dana White staying on as President

UFC sold, Lorenzo Fertitta to step down & Dana White staying on as President The Ultimate Fighting Championship has officially been sold. William Morris Endeavor, along with International Management Group today announced during a news release that it has acquired the worlds premiere MMA organization. Along with WME and IMG, Silver Lake Partners and KKR are along as investors, as are MSD Capital/MSD Partners. UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III will retain a “passive minority interest” in the new company. Lorenzo Fertitta will step down as CEO after the deal is complete. Dana White will continue in his role as the UFC’s president. WME-IMG is one of the world’s leading talent agencies, and its clients include former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and crossover star Ronda Rousey. The company’s CEOs are Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell. Las Vegas CBS affiliate reported late Sunday the sale price was $4 billion although no price point was announced during the release which you can read below.  “We’ve been fortunate over the years to represent UFC and a number of its remarkable athletes. It’s been exciting to watch the organization’s incredible growth over the last decade under the leadership of the Fertitta brothers, Dana White and their dedicated team. We’re now committed to pursuing new opportunities for UFC and its talented athletes to ensure the sport’s continued growth and success on a global scale.” Lorenzo Fertitta added “We’re confident that the new ownership team of WME-IMG, with whom we’ve built a strong relationship over the last several years, is committed to accelerating UFC’s global growth,”  “Most importantly, our new owners share the same vision and passion for this organization and its athletes.”   UFC 200: Amanda Nunes vs. Miesha Tate video highlights    UFC 200: Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt video highlights   UFC 200: Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva video highlights   UFC 200: Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar video highlights   UFC 200: Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Browne video highlights