The company also generated upwards of $1 billion during the pandemic stricken 2021. Significant sources of revenue for the company include broadcast deals, pay-per-view sales, and sponsorships. The sport of MMA has recently seen an uptick in interest from sports fans, partly due to the rise of global pay-per-view megastars like Conor McGregor.
Apparently, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was one of the few promotions to conduct stellar business in 2020, a year that saw many a sport struggling due to pandemic restrictions. In a 2020 interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, Dana White said:
Watch the full interview below:
UFC is currently owned by the Endeavor group as they hold a 50.1% majority stake in the company. The rest 49% is split between Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital.
Biggest UFC pay-per-views of 2021
2021 was one of the American MMA promotion’s highest grossing years, generating around $ 1 million in revenue. Let’s a look at some of the biggest pay-per-views of 2021.
UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2
This might not surprise many, as a Conor McGregor card has always been a pay-per-view blockbuster for the company. The fight generated around 1.6 million pay-per-view buys.
The card took place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on January 21. Dustin Poirier triumphed over the Irishman in the fight with a second-round TKO.
Watch the highlights of Poirier vs. McGregor 2 below:
UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3
The third fight between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor was famous for many reasons, the Irishman’s infamous leg break, his bizarre post-fight interview, etc… But the fight card also generated around 1,540,737 pay-per-view buys.
The fight, which took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, saw Poirier register a second win over ‘The Notorious’. After McGregor broke his leg at the end of the first round, the bout was declared a TKO victory for Poirier.
UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya
Reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s light heavyweight debut against then-champion Jan Blachowicz generated 80,000 pay-per-view buys.
However, ‘The Last Stylebender’s’ light-heavyweight title dream never came true as he succumbed to a unanimous decision loss to Blachowicz. The event took place at the Apex facility in Las Vegas on March 6.
Watch highlights of Adesanya vs. Blachowicz below:
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