View source for Zuffa

{{For|the Italian politician|Grazia Zuffa}}
{{short description|American sports promotion company (2001–2023)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=November 2020}}
{{Fanpov|date=November 2020}}
{{Promotional|date=November 2024}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = TKO Operating Company, LLC
| logo = ZuffaLogo.jpg
| trading_name = Zuffa
| former_names = Zuffa, LLC (2001–2023)
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| owner = 
| founders = [[Frank Fertitta III]]<br />[[Lorenzo Fertitta]]
| defunct = 
| fate = 
| area_served = 
| key_people = [[Ari Emanuel]] (co-CEO – Endeavor)<br />[[Patrick Whitesell]] (co-CEO – Endeavor)<br />[[Dana White]] ([[President (corporate title)|president]] – UFC)
| industry = Sports promotion
| website = 
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[TKO Group Holdings]]
| divisions = 
| subsid = [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] <small>(2001)</small><br />[[World Fighting Alliance]] <small>(2006)</small><br />[[Pride Fighting Championships]] <small>(2007)</small><br />[[World Extreme Cagefighting]] <small>(2010)</small><br />[[Strikeforce (mixed martial arts)|Strikeforce]] <small>(2013)</small>
| footnotes = 
| foundation = {{Start date and age|January 2001}}
| location_city = [[Las Vegas]], Nevada
| location_country = United States
| slogan = 
}}
'''TKO Operating Company, LLC''' ('''TKO OpCo'''), [[doing business as]] '''Zuffa''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|uː|f|ə}}), is an American sports promotion company specializing in [[mixed martial arts]]. It was founded in January 2001 in [[Las Vegas]], Nevada, by [[Station Casinos]] executives [[Frank Fertitta III]] and [[Lorenzo Fertitta]] to be the parent entity of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) after they purchased it from the Semaphore Entertainment Group.

Zuffa was acquired in 2016 by a group led by [[Endeavor (company)|WME-IMG]] (later Endeavor) including [[Silver Lake (investment firm)|Silver Lake Partners]], [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]], and [[MSD Capital]] for the price of $4.025 billion.<ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web|date=2016-07-11|title=UFC sold to WME-IMG in unprecedented deal|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/16970360/ufc-sold-unprecedented-4-billion-dana-white-confirms|access-date=2020-11-18|website=[[ESPN.com]]|language=en}}</ref> After the Endeavor deal closed, the Zuffa logo and brand were retired from on-air usage in favor of the UFC brand, but Zuffa was retained as the legal name of the company.  

In April 2023, Endeavor announced that UFC would merge with the [[professional wrestling]] promotion [[WWE]] to form [[TKO Group Holdings]], a new [[public company]] majority-owned by Endeavor, with [[Vince McMahon]] serving as an executive chairman of the new entity and White remaining as UFC president, replacing Zuffa as parent entity of the UFC. The merger was completed on September 12, 2023.<ref name="CNBC">{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Alex |last2=Calia |first2=Mike |title=WWE agrees to merge with UFC to create a new company run by Ari Emanuel and Vince McMahon |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/03/wwe-ufc-merger-endeavor.html |work=[[CNBC]]|language=en}}</ref> Zuffa, now a TKO subsidiary legally known as TKO Operating Company, remains as the copyright holder of UFC events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=tko-20240331x10q |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1973266/000197326624000013/tko-20240331x10q.htm |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=www.sec.gov}}</ref>

In June 2025, the "Zuffa" brand has been revived by TKO for their new boxing promotion in partnership with [[Sela (company)|Sela]], named "Zuffa Boxing".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-23 |title=Dana White: No rivalry with lunatics Arum, De La Hoya |url=https://ringmagazine.com/en/news/dana-white-says-he-doesn-t-have-rivalry-with-f-ing-lunatics-arum-de-la-hoya |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=RingMagazine.com |language=en}}</ref> 

==Relationship with other organizations==

===Flash Entertainment===
On January 12, 2010, Zuffa sold a minority interest in the company to Flash Entertainment.  The company announced the completion of a deal in which a 10-percent interest in the company to the [[Abu Dhabi]] government-owned Flash Entertainment. With the sale, company ownership would be 40.5 percent held by Lorenzo Fertitta, the company's CEO and chairman, 40.5 percent held by his older brother, Frank Fertitta III, 10 percent by Flash Entertainment and nine percent by Dana White.<ref name="Abu-Dhabi">{{cite web|publisher=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |title=Minority interest sold in UFC parent company|date=2010-01-12|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=Agxw5u99vxeUPmUsCLrIg3c5nYcB?slug=dm-ufcsale011210&prov=yhoo&type=lgnsl|access-date=2010-01-12}}</ref>  Flash Entertainment was formed in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi government's Executive Affairs Authority.

===Ubisoft===
In December 2010, Zuffa filed a lawsuit against [[video game publisher]] [[Ubisoft]], for what they claimed was a violation of trademark on the game, ''Fighters Uncaged'', packaging.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sieroty|first=Chris|title=UFC sues video game maker, alleging harm to trademark|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/ufc-sues-video-game-maker-alleging-harm-to-trademark-111715579.html?ref=579|access-date=26 September 2011|newspaper=Las Vegas Review Journal|date=11 December 2010}}</ref>  On the packaging of the game the trademarked term, "Ultimate Fighting" is shown in all capital letters. Zuffa claimed that the use of the term is identical or confusingly similar to the use of the UFC's trademarks. While Ubisoft failed to provide any comments on the lawsuit,<ref>{{cite web|first=Tor |last=Thorsen |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ufc-parent-sues-ubisoft/1100-6285399/ |title=UFC parent sues Ubisoft |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=2010-12-14 |access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref> by August 2011, the two companies announced the dissolution of the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web|last=Whitman |first=Mike |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Zuffa-Ubisoft-Settle-Infringement-Suit-35058 |title=Zuffa, Ubisoft Settle Infringement Suit |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2011-08-25 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref>

===Lone Survivor Foundation===
In May 2011, it was announced that Zuffa would be holding a charity auction featuring more than 100 items to benefit the [[Lone Survivor Foundation]] during the last week of May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/23684/ufc-offers-more-than-100-items-for-charity-auction-to-benefit-lone-survivor-foundation.mma |title=UFC offers more than 100 items for charity auction to benefit Lone Survivor Foundation |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |date=2011-05-21 |access-date=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023191546/http://mmajunkie.com/news/23684/ufc-offers-more-than-100-items-for-charity-auction-to-benefit-lone-survivor-foundation.mma |archive-date=2012-10-23 }}</ref> All products were autographed by UFC fighters and included [[baseball cap]]s, [[T-shirt]]s, [[MMA gloves]], and [[DVD]]s. Products generally ranged in price from $50 to a few thousand dollars.

===Cleveland Clinic===
In February 2014, Zuffa was one of a number of major combat sport promotions to support a major brain trauma study that was being conducted by the [[Cleveland Clinic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cagepages.com/2014/02/07/ufc-help-cleveland-clinics-study-brain-study/|title=UFC to help Cleveland Clinic's Study on Brain Trauma|work=Cage Pages|date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/317079-do-not-run-until-tuesday-brain-health-supported-by-richard-schaefer-todd-duboef-bernard-hopkins|title=Study unites Golden Boy, Top Rank, MMA, U.S. Senators|first=Lem|last=Satterfield|date=4 February 2014|work=Ring TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/1/27/5351822/mma-and-boxing-luminaries-combine-efforts-help-cleveland-clinic-brain|title=MMA and boxing luminaries combine efforts to help Cleveland Clinic brain health study|first=Luke|last=Thomas|date=27 January 2014|work=MMA Fighting}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ufc-teams-up-with-senators-mccain-reid-to-support-brain-health-study-at-the-cleveland-clinic-020114|title=MMA and boxing execs, Senators McCain and Reid team up to support brain health study|work=FOX Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/feb/05/study-head-injuries-boxing/|title=Boxing and MMA officials join Reid and McCain to tout study of fighters' brain health|first=Karoun|last=Demirjian|work=LasVegasSun.com|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/ufc/story/mma-boxing-rivals-unify-to-support-head-trauma-research-we-owe-it-to-these-athletes-020414|title=MMA, boxing rivals unify to support head trauma research: 'We owe it to these athletes'|work=[[Fox Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/02/boxers_and_politicians_stop_fi.html|title=Boxers and politicians stop fighting to support Cleveland Clinic brain injury study (video)|work=cleveland.com|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/10402924/boxing-mma-representatives-meet-head-research|title=Boxing, MMA representatives meet about head research|work=ESPN.com|date=February 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/boxing-mma-organizations-promise-funding-brain-study-las-vegas|title=Boxing, MMA organizations promise funding for brain study in Las Vegas|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=June 12, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/4/boxing-mma-groups-back-brain-trauma-study/|title=Boxing, MMA groups back brain trauma study|work=The Washington Times}}</ref> This was further followed up in February 2016, when Zuffa donated a million dollars to the [[Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health|Ruvo Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/life/health/ufc-donates-1m-ruvo-center-brain-trauma-study-video|title = UFC donates $1M to Ruvo center for brain trauma study — VIDEO|date = February 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Sale to Endeavor and merger with WWE==
Around May 11, 2016, [[ESPN|ESPN's]] Darren Rovell reported that [[Goldman Sachs]] was helping Zuffa set up a sale of its majority ownership to one of four bidders at a speculated price range between $3.5 billion to $4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-10|title=Sources: UFC owners in talks to sell business|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/15503004/ufc-owners-advanced-talks-sell-promotion|access-date=2020-11-25|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> Immediately after Rovell reported this, UFC President [[Dana White]] went on ''[[The Dan Patrick Show]]'' and denied that the UFC was up for sale, claiming that Zuffa was more focused on "working on deals and our expansion globally" than selling the promotion. However, White would further add that Zuffa would be listening to offers if they met the reported $4 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Luke|date=2016-05-11|title=White on UFC's future: 'We're working on growing'|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/5/11/11657066/dana-white-denies-ufc-for-sale-says-were-working-on-growing-the|access-date=2020-11-25|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref> Despite White's denial of a potential sale, [[Dave Meltzer]] of [[SB Nation|SB Nation's]] mmafighting.com reported a month later that the sale of the UFC was imminent, as Zuffa received two bids within the range of $3.9 billion to $4.2 billion from both [[WME-IMG]], the events  and [[China Media Capital]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|date=2016-06-16|title=UFC sale close with two bids near $4.1B (updated)|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/6/16/11957074/ufc-sale-reportedly-imminent-with-two-bids-in-4-1-billion-range|access-date=2020-11-25|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}</ref>

Finally, on July 11, after months of speculation, the UFC released a statement confirming that Zuffa had sold its majority stake to an ownership group headed by WME-IMG for $4.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WME {{!}} IMG TO ACQUIRE UFC® {{!}} UFC|url=https://www.ufc.com/node/78790|access-date=2020-11-25|website=ufc.com|date=September 14, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>  ESPN's Darren Rovell and Brett Okamoto would go on further to report that, despite the sale to WME-IMG, Dana White would be staying on with the UFC as President and would "be given a stake in the new business." They would also add that the Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment would still maintain its 10 percent stake in the company.<ref name="ESPN"/> In 2017, WME-IMG reorganized as Endeavor.<ref name=hwr>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wme-img-renames-parent-company-as-endeavor-1047094|title=WME-IMG Renames Parent Company as Endeavor|work=Hollywood Reporter|date=October 9, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2018}}</ref> On April 29, 2021, Endeavor launched an [[initial public offering]] (IPO) and became a publicly traded company listed on [[New York Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31358407/ufc-parent-company-endeavor-goes-public-stock-sale|title=UFC parent company Endeavor goes public with stock sale|date=April 29, 2021|work=[[ESPN]]|author=Brett Okamoto}}</ref> Endeavor subsequently used some of the proceeds from the IPO to buy out Zuffa's other shareholders at a value of $1.7 billion, making Zuffa a wholly-owned subsidiary of Endeavor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/3/31/22361001/endeavor-deal-100-percent-controlling-interest-over-ufc-planned-ipo-elon-musk-board-of-directors|title=Endeavor closes deal for 100 percent controlling interest over UFC ahead of planned IPO, Elon Musk joins board of directors|date=March 31, 2021|work=MMA Fighting|author=Damon Martin|accessdate=July 22, 2021}}</ref>

From the start of 2023, professional wrestling promotion [[WWE]] began to explore a potential sale of the company, amidst an employee misconduct scandal involving its owner [[Vince McMahon]] that had prompted him to step down as chairman and CEO, although he returned as executive chairman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Alex |last2=Calia |first2=Mike |title=WWE agrees to merge with UFC to create a new company run by Ari Emanuel and Vince McMahon |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/03/wwe-ufc-merger-endeavor.html |work=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In April 2023, Endeavor and WWE announced a merger to form [[TKO Group Holdings]], a new [[Public company|public]] company majority-owned by Endeavor, with McMahon serving as executive chairman of the new entity, and Nick Khan becoming president of the WWE while [[Dana White]] maintaining his position as president of the UFC. The merger was completed on September 12, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEC-Show |url=https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/wwe/SEC/sec-show.aspx?Type=html&FilingId=16618811&Cik=0001091907 |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=otp.tools.investis.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Companies}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{TKO Group Holdings}}
{{Ultimate Fighting Championship}}

[[Category:TKO Group Holdings]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:2001 establishments in Nevada]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts promotions]]
[[Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in the Las Vegas Valley]]
[[Category:Companies based in Las Vegas]]
[[Category:Sports event promotion companies]]
[[Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Kohlberg Kravis Roberts companies]]