Week in MMA & Boxing #45
MMA & Boxing News From the week of
June 24th - July 1st, 2016
June 24th - July 1st, 2016
UFC Sale Update
There is no news regarding the sale. With the exception of Jeremy Botter and Flo Wrestling, nobody has been able to confirm the story. There are indications we’ve got at press time based on things taking place behind the scenes and communications which would indicate the sale is not final and more than one company is still in the running.
There is no news regarding the sale. With the exception of Jeremy Botter and Flo Wrestling, nobody has been able to confirm the story. There are indications we’ve got at press time based on things taking place behind the scenes and communications which would indicate the sale is not final and more than one company is still in the running.
UFC Ownership financials
Of the 2015 profit, $76,089,000 went to the shareholders as dividends or roughly $30,816,000 for both Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta and $6,848,000 to Dana White. The prior year and dividends paid to the stockholders totaled $44,329,000, and that was for what seemed to be the worst year possible. Unlike WWE, which has historically kept tens of millions in cash on hand and rarely taken out loans, the UFC has been built on debt. On December 31, 2015, they had $19,347,000 cash and cash equivalents on hand, far less than WWE. The company also owns 50 percent of the UFC branded gyms. The company last year spent $57,460,000 in advertising costs. Of the total revenue, the company took in $79.2 million in revenue in Brazil, its leading international market.
Of the 2015 profit, $76,089,000 went to the shareholders as dividends or roughly $30,816,000 for both Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta and $6,848,000 to Dana White. The prior year and dividends paid to the stockholders totaled $44,329,000, and that was for what seemed to be the worst year possible. Unlike WWE, which has historically kept tens of millions in cash on hand and rarely taken out loans, the UFC has been built on debt. On December 31, 2015, they had $19,347,000 cash and cash equivalents on hand, far less than WWE. The company also owns 50 percent of the UFC branded gyms. The company last year spent $57,460,000 in advertising costs. Of the total revenue, the company took in $79.2 million in revenue in Brazil, its leading international market.
Fertitta leaving UFC?
Lorenzo Fertitta had quietly signed a five-year deal with Red Rock Resorts, the company his family controls, to be the new CEO. He actually signed the deal back on 4/28. That would seem to indicate he’s leaving UFC, where he has been CEO since June 2008 working full-time. Before that, while he was the owner, he was working mainly with Station Casinos and Dana White was in charge. Fertitta is also Vice President of Red Rock and on its Board of Directors.
Lorenzo Fertitta had quietly signed a five-year deal with Red Rock Resorts, the company his family controls, to be the new CEO. He actually signed the deal back on 4/28. That would seem to indicate he’s leaving UFC, where he has been CEO since June 2008 working full-time. Before that, while he was the owner, he was working mainly with Station Casinos and Dana White was in charge. Fertitta is also Vice President of Red Rock and on its Board of Directors.
Chiesa Hurt and Out
The scheduled 7/13 main event from Sioux Falls of Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson is out. Chiesa said that while training, he suffered a pop and shift in his lower back followed by sharp pain. He found out he had a ruptured disc. He’ll need eight weeks of physical therapy and rehab, and is hopeful that will allow him to avoid surgery. UFC was looking for a new opponent for Ferguson, but at press time the plan was Michael McDonald vs. John Lineker as the new main event. That’s the show going head-up with the ESPYs, Ultima Lucha, the cruiserweight classic and Nakamura vs. Balor on NXT and will be UFC’s fourth show in seven days.
The scheduled 7/13 main event from Sioux Falls of Michael Chiesa vs. Tony Ferguson is out. Chiesa said that while training, he suffered a pop and shift in his lower back followed by sharp pain. He found out he had a ruptured disc. He’ll need eight weeks of physical therapy and rehab, and is hopeful that will allow him to avoid surgery. UFC was looking for a new opponent for Ferguson, but at press time the plan was Michael McDonald vs. John Lineker as the new main event. That’s the show going head-up with the ESPYs, Ultima Lucha, the cruiserweight classic and Nakamura vs. Balor on NXT and will be UFC’s fourth show in seven days.
Rumble vs Glover rescheduled
The Anthony Rumble Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira fight for a light heavyweight title shot that was originally set for 7/23 in Chicago on FOX, has been put back on the schedule. It’s now on UFC 202 on 8/20 in Las Vegas. Johnson withdrew from the 7/23 date over personal reasons. Also added to that show is Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia and Donald Cerrone vs Rick Story. Condit had previously talked about retiring unless he got a rematch with Robbie Lawler. Not sure why UFC went with Tyron Woodley, since most thought Condit beat Lawler but in recent weeks Condit had been hinting he would fight again.
The Anthony Rumble Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira fight for a light heavyweight title shot that was originally set for 7/23 in Chicago on FOX, has been put back on the schedule. It’s now on UFC 202 on 8/20 in Las Vegas. Johnson withdrew from the 7/23 date over personal reasons. Also added to that show is Carlos Condit vs. Demian Maia and Donald Cerrone vs Rick Story. Condit had previously talked about retiring unless he got a rematch with Robbie Lawler. Not sure why UFC went with Tyron Woodley, since most thought Condit beat Lawler but in recent weeks Condit had been hinting he would fight again.
Bisping talks retirement
Michael Bisping, at 37, is saying he wants to do two or three more fights and then retire. The belief is if he could lay it out, he’d do Dan Henderson, GSP and maybe that would be it, or maybe he’d face one of the top contenders. He’s been vocal about not wanting to face anyone on PEDs, feeling he lost a number of key fights in his career to cheaters.
Michael Bisping, at 37, is saying he wants to do two or three more fights and then retire. The belief is if he could lay it out, he’d do Dan Henderson, GSP and maybe that would be it, or maybe he’d face one of the top contenders. He’s been vocal about not wanting to face anyone on PEDs, feeling he lost a number of key fights in his career to cheaters.
Penn's Suspension reduced
B.J. Penn and USADA reached agreement that Penn would be suspended for six months for illegally using an IV. Penn put it down on the form when drug tested, not realizing that using an IV outside of competition was banned. He said he was aware it was banned in competition. According to USADA, what Penn was taking via IV was nothing illegal. The six month suspension will end on 9/25 since it’s retroactive to 3/25, when he admitted using the IV. Penn has said that when he comes back, he’d like to face Georges St-Pierre for a third time.
B.J. Penn and USADA reached agreement that Penn would be suspended for six months for illegally using an IV. Penn put it down on the form when drug tested, not realizing that using an IV outside of competition was banned. He said he was aware it was banned in competition. According to USADA, what Penn was taking via IV was nothing illegal. The six month suspension will end on 9/25 since it’s retroactive to 3/25, when he admitted using the IV. Penn has said that when he comes back, he’d like to face Georges St-Pierre for a third time.
Bellator Dynamite
The company had one of its major shows, the 2016 Dynamite show, on 6/24 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, headlined by Rampage Jackson vs. Satoshi Ishii. The idea is that Dynamite, a show that combines MMA and kickboxing in the same arena, with a ring and a cage side-by-side, is the company’s biggest show of the year. But it didn’t seem to have that level of interest. From a big-time feel, particularly entrances, this was better than any promotion in the U.S. does with the exception of WWE at WrestleMania. It had the feel of a major event.
Basically, the under-card was great and the main event Sucked!!!!
The company had one of its major shows, the 2016 Dynamite show, on 6/24 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, headlined by Rampage Jackson vs. Satoshi Ishii. The idea is that Dynamite, a show that combines MMA and kickboxing in the same arena, with a ring and a cage side-by-side, is the company’s biggest show of the year. But it didn’t seem to have that level of interest. From a big-time feel, particularly entrances, this was better than any promotion in the U.S. does with the exception of WWE at WrestleMania. It had the feel of a major event.
Basically, the under-card was great and the main event Sucked!!!!
Premier Boxing on CBS
The Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter-led Premier Boxing show on CBS did 2,415,000 viewers, about the same as most recent UFC shows on FOX has done. It was the first CBS prime time boxing show in years and had a fight of the year for the main event, called by Mauro Ranallo who labeled it one of the best bouts he’d ever broadcast. It lost to Olympic diving qualifying on NC (3,210,000) but beat Major League Baseball on FOX (2,092,000).
The Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter-led Premier Boxing show on CBS did 2,415,000 viewers, about the same as most recent UFC shows on FOX has done. It was the first CBS prime time boxing show in years and had a fight of the year for the main event, called by Mauro Ranallo who labeled it one of the best bouts he’d ever broadcast. It lost to Olympic diving qualifying on NC (3,210,000) but beat Major League Baseball on FOX (2,092,000).