Has The UFC Just Been Sold?

Rumors surfaced on Monday that the owners of UFC had accepted a $4.2 billion offer to sell the company. Not only that but that the leading group of bidders to purchase even included Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Jeremy Botter of FloCombat reported that according to multiple unnamed sources, a group led by WME/IMG would purchase the UFC for $4.2 billion. In his report, he said the majority of money for the deal would come from Chinese companies Dalian Wanda Group and TenCent Holdings. The Kraft Group, owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, was also part of the deal to buy the UFC, according to Botter.

Dave Sholler, the UFC’s vice president of public relations, athlete marketing and development, sent a statement to Yahoo Sports late Monday denying the rumors.

“FloCombat.com’s report indicating that the UFC has been sold is false,” Sholler said in the statement. “We’ve communicated that to our staff members tonight via an internal memo.”

UFC president Dana White declined comment.

Back in May, ESPN had reported that UFC was in the advanced stages of talks to sell the company. White denied that to Yahoo Sports on the same day.