대형 자본의 인수, UFC 역사, Acquisition of Large Capital, UFC History

2010년 화이트는 UFC의 모회사 Zuffa 주식의 10%를 아부다비의 왕자인 타흐눈 빈 자이드 알나얀와 연관 있는 업체에 넘겼다고 한다. 그의 전폭적인 지원을 받으며, UFC의 재정력은 한층 더 업그레이드 되었다.

막대한 자본력을 힘에 업게된 UFC는 외부 선수 영입에 나섰다. 때마침 2007년 일본의 Pride가 도산하면서 많은 선수들이 대거 자유계약 신분이 되는 일이 발생했는데, 이들을 영입하면서 기존 선수층에 새로운 선수층이 더해졌다. 이에 든든한 재정과 우수한 선수층을 바탕으로 2000년대 후반 이후부턴 명실공히 세계 1위의 MMA 단체가 되었다.

이를 증명하듯 2010년, 역시 Zuffa의 계열사인 WEC와의 합병을 감행했다. 무엇보다 놀라운 것은 이 과정에서 임직원과 선수층을 해고하지 않고, 100% 그대로 데려왔다는 것. 이로 인해 경량급 디비전이 한층 강화되었다.

그리고 2011년 3월 2위급 단체인 Strikeforce까지 인수하면서 완벽한 독과점체제를 갖췄다.

본래 UFC 헤비급 신성 4인방을 필두로 하는 중량급이 인기가 높았으나, 2010년대 중반부터 코너 맥그리거, 하빕 누르마고메도프, 더스틴 포이리에, 네이트 디아즈, 호르헤 마스비달 등의 스타들이 출몰하면서 UFC는 모든 체급들이 균형있게 돌아가게 된다.

2016년 7월 10일 ESPN을 포함한 미국 현지 언론들은 일제히 UFC의 매각 사실을 보도하였다. 그동안 지속적인 루머가 나오고 있었으나 UFC측에서는 전 직원에게 '매각설은 사실이 아니다.' 라는 메일을 전체 발송하기도 하면서 루머가 사실이 아니다라고 홍보했지만, 결국 루머가 사실로 드러난 셈.

당초 중국 자본에 매각될 것이다라는 루머가 있었으나 실제로는 WME-IMG, 실버레이크, KKR, MSD 캐피탈 등 4개 그룹의 연합체에 매각되었다. 인수금액은 약 40억달러로 추정되며, 인수 이후에도 로렌조 퍼티타와 데이나 화이트가 일정 지분과 수익을 가져가게 된다. 데이나 화이트와 2001년 UFC를 200만달러(약 23억원)에 인수해 세계적인 종합격투기 단체를 만든 퍼티타 형제는 15년 후에 2천배가 넘게 가치를 키워서 팔아버리게 된 것. 이후에도 일부 수익이 보장되어 있다.. 로렌조 퍼티타는 CEO직을 내놓을 것으로 보이나 데이나 화이트는 UFC 사장직을 계속 유지한다고 한다.

 

 

 

In 2010, White allegedly transferred 10 percent of the UFC's parent company, Zuffa, to a company affiliated with Tahnun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the prince of Abu Dhabi. With his full support, the UFC's finances have been further upgraded.

UFC, which was backed by enormous capital, started recruiting outside players. Just in time, many players became free agents when Japan's Pride went bankrupt in 2007, and the recruitment of them added a new layer of players to the existing players. Based on their strong finances and excellent players, it has become the world's No. 1 MMA organization since the late 2000s.

As proof of this, in 2010, it also merged with WEC, a subsidiary of Zuffa. Most surprisingly, the executives and players were not fired in this process, but 100% were brought in. This further strengthened the lightweight division.

And in March 2011, it acquired Strikeforce, a second-class organization, and had a perfect monopoly system.

Originally, heavyweights led by four UFC heavyweights were popular, but since the mid-2010s, stars such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, and Jorge Masvidal have appeared, so all weight classes will be balanced.

On July 10, 2016, local media in the U.S., including ESPN, reported the sale of the UFC. Rumors have been continuously circulating, but the UFC sent a full e-mail saying, "The rumor of the sale is not true," and promoted that the rumor was not true, but the rumor turned out to be true.

Initially, there were rumors that it would be sold to Chinese capital, but it was actually sold to an association of four groups: WME-IMG, Silver Lake, KKR, and MSD Capital. The acquisition is estimated to be around $4 billion, and Lorenzo Pertita and Dana White will take a certain stake and profit after the acquisition. Dana White and the Pertita brothers, who created a global mixed martial arts organization by acquiring UFC for $2 million (W2.3 billion) in 2001, were sold out 15 years later by growing their value more than 2,000 times. Some profits are guaranteed even after this. Lorenzo Pertita is expected to offer the CEO position, but Dana White will continue as UFC president.