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Thursday
July 30, 2009
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CNBC Profiles UFC's Growth Into Mainstream, Global Brand

Fertitta Feels UFC Is Weathering
Economic Downturn Pretty Well

CNBC last night aired a special report on the UFC called "Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars," with the net's Scott Wapner saying the UFC, the "premiere brand" in MMA, has "muscled its way into the mainstream and has even gone global" since the league was initially profiled by CNBC in '07. UFC PPV event in '08 "generated more than 5 million buys, beating the demand for boxing and wrestling," and that "windfall has brought huge paydays for UFC's top fighters." Live UFC events "typically sell-out and remain a hot commodity," which is evidence to UFC co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta that the league is "weathering the economic downturn pretty well." Fertitta: "We are up year-over-year in every category: revenues, profits, pay-per-view, live gate, international TV sales, sponsorship, everywhere. The question is, without the recession where would our business be?" UFC claims its '08 revenues were $275M, up 37% from two years earlier. Meanwhile, Burger King is a sponsor of Spike's "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show, and Wapner said if "that's not the ultimate sign that Ultimate Fighting has officially arrived," the "UFC Undisputed 2009" videogame selling "more than 1 million copies ... in its first 12 days on the shelves" is. Wapner also added the UFC's rise "has been a boon to Las Vegas itself, bringing in $86(M) in nongaming revenue in 2008 alone" ("Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars," CNBC, 7/29).

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