Fox has reportedly offered $200 million for the television rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The news was first reported a few days ago by Sports Business Journal writer John Ourand and then confirmed by ESPN’s Darren Rovell Monday night.
The shocking part is that UFC values its television rights at $450 million.
Can confirm Fox initial offer for UFC rights in the $200M range, as first reported by @Ourand_SBJ.
UFC sale document said rights were worth as much as $450M. Don’t believe WME/IMG ever thought that was realistic.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 27, 2017
This is further proof of how much the UFC has blown up, regardless if the rights sell for $200 million or closer to $450 million.
The UFC was bought by brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta for $2 million in 2000, and recently sold again for several billions. It’s crazy to think the television rights alone are worth a hundred times minimum what the whole league cost nearly two decades ago.
The UFC’s rise has been nothing but spectacular.