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Leagues and Governing Bodies

UFC Plans Global Expansion In '15, Targeting Russia, South Korea, Latin America

UFC is "continuing to boost its global presence for 2015 after staging a record 22 live fight events" outside the U.S. in '14, according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. UFC in '15 "will stage 23 live fight shows outside the United States." UFC in '13 "staged 10 foreign live fight events." UFC Chief Global Officer Garry Cook, who transferred from the promotion's London office, will "orchestrate the MMA organization’s vast global empire" from its Las Vegas HQ. He said, “As we grow as a business, we’re moving from a fight promoter to a world-renowned sports media and entertainment company.” UFC co-Chair & CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said that the league in '15 will be using 3% of revenue from its Reebok apparel deal "to pay for a 'Fight for Peace' program in London and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to help troubled youths and train them in martial arts." UFC also will be "expanding the UFC gym business in London; Saudi Arabia; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Brazil; and Germany." UFC has 130 commercial gyms in the U.S. and "plans to expand to 300." In addition, Fertitta said that UFC in '15 will be "targeting priority markets in Russia, where UFC cut its first TV broadcast deal there with a free, over-the-air government-owned broadcaster to deliver UFC programming to 55 million households; South Korea, where there is a strong roster of fighters; Scotland, and a Latin American country such as Panama or Costa Rica." Furthermore, Fertitta said that '15 will bring with it the "preproduction launch of 'The Ultimate Fighter' reality shows in Japan and the Middle East," as well as UFC "focusing on the markets with media deals such as Brazil, Mexico and Latin America." Cook said that he "sees growing UFC in sub-Saharan Africa through the gateway of South Africa" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/25).

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