The transfer of control of the UFC to WME-IMG is "now official," as former co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta "had his final day at the office on Wednesday," according to Dave Meltzer of MMAFIGHTING. UFC fighters "received an e-mail on Friday confirming the change in ownership on WME-IMG stationary." Fertitta "said goodbye to the staff" and fielded jokes about getting them Raiders tickets. Meltzer noted it has "long been rumored part of the reason Fertitta was selling had to do with a bid to bring the Raiders to Las Vegas and land owned by the family has been talked about for a potential stadium site." Saturday's UFC 202 was the "first show under the full control of the new ownership" (MMAFIGHTING.com, 8/20).
WHAT A FIGHT IT WAS: In Las Vegas, Ed Graney noted WME-IMG execs at UFC 202 "witnessed the absolute best of their newfound investment." Conor McGregor in the main card defeated Nate Diaz to avenge his loss in March. But Graney wrote, "Memo to the suits: It isn't always this good" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 8/21). In L.A., Lance Pugmire wrote McGregor-Diaz was a "classic, five round battle" that featured a "rugged and smart performance" by McGregor (L.A. TIMES, 8/21). ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto noted McGregor-Diaz "offered evidence that the sport might be worth every penny." The bout is an "instant front-runner for fight of the year" (ESPN.com, 8/20). In N.Y., George Willis noted McGregor "avenged the only loss in a three-year meteoric climb to become the UFC's top attraction" (N.Y. POST, 8/21). CBSSPORTS.com's Bill Reiter wrote the first McGregor-Diaz fight "was great," while the second fight "was epic." Reiter: "The completion of the trilogy, if the pattern holds, could end up being the greatest UFC fight of all time" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/21). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote the fight was a "sensational one" that had the crowd "roaring throughout" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/21). ESPN's Israel Gutierrez said McGregor's win is a "victory for entertainment" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 8/21).
BIG WIN: ESPN.com's Brian Campbell wrote McGregor's legacy is the "biggest" winner from UFC 202. This was a "must-win fight for McGregor because of the audacious nature in which he was attempting to script his legend." Campbell also listed the UFC as a winner, as it had been a "rough two months of public relations" for the promotion following its recent $4B sale, "largely because of a string of high-profile doping violations." With the company at a "bit of a deficit in terms of star power, Saturday was a big win" for WME-IMG as it looks to "grow the brand and recoup their investment" (ESPN.com, 8/21).
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: In Las Vegas, Case Keefer wrote it is "no secret the UFC would like McGregor to headline UFC 205" on Nov. 12, the promotion's first-ever card in N.Y. at MSG. Having McGregor "challenge lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez in an attempt to join Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only fighters to ever win titles in two different divisions would add to the event's historic bent." But the "biggest question after UFC 202 is if that's even possible." McGregor "labored his way out of the arena Saturday night" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 8/21). UFC promoters on Friday announced that Times Union Center will host upstate New York's first UFC match on Dec. 9. The sport "was legalized" by the state earlier this month (Albany TIMES UNION, 8/20).
NUMBERS GAME: Saturday's card "brought in a gate of $7,692,010, the fifth-highest in UFC history" and had an announced attendance of 15,539 at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN.com, 8/20). MMAWEEKLY.com noted by comparison, UFC 200 "drew 18,202 spectators for a gate" of $10.7M. But the rematch was a "strong draw, and the fight lived up to the hype" (MMAWEEKLY.com, 8/21). ESPN.com's Darren Rovell wrote perhaps "motivated by wanting to fill up the seats for Saturday's fights in Las Vegas," the UFC "slashed prices on tickets for UFC 202" in the days leading up to the event. Some upper-level seats at T-Mobile Arena that originally cost $365 were reduced by 41% to $215. The best seats, located right by the Octagon, "cost $9,995" earlier last week. By Friday morning, the face value on those seats were cut by 20% to $7,995 (ESPN.com, 8/19).
