Back in 2011, FOX locked down a seven-year deal for broadcasting rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). With the UFC having since been purchased by William Morris Endeavor and the broadcast deal now nearing its end, the mixed martial arts promotion has been probing around for other potential partners to make a deal with. Just last month the exclusive negotiating period came to end, allowing the UFC to negotiate with other potentially interested parties.
While FOX’s deal from 2011 was worth roughly $100 million per annum, the world’s most famous mixed martial arts promotion is now asking for $450 million moving forward. That being said, Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand has since reported that FOX’s counter offer came in at a much lower $200 million. With the total being less than half of the UFC’s initial asking price, it seems unlikely that negotiations will end there.
The UFC may entertain ideas from digital media companies such as Amazon or consider potential opportunities from Showtime moving forward.
