Credit: Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports

Have you ever wondered who owns the UFC? Or how the largest mixed martial arts promotion in the world was first created? Well, look no further as we answer every major question about who are the folks that run the biggest promotion in MMA.

Who owns UFC?

Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc., headed by Patrick Whitesell and Ari Emanuel, are the current owners of UFC. They own what amounts to a 51 percent stake in TKO Group Holdings, which is a holding company consisting of UFC as well as the pro wrestling promotion, WWE.

Endeavor Group Holdings was formerly known as William Morris Endeavor and WME-IMG.

Does Dana White own UFC?

No, Dana White does not own the UFC. He has served as the president of the promotion since 2001 after Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta acquired the company. In his role as president, White was given a stake in the company, owning nine percent at the time of the 2016 sale. He was given a stake in the new business upon the completion of the sale to WME-IMG.

Who is the CEO of the UFC?

That would be Dana White, who was given the title in 2023 with the merger between UFC and WWE. Under the Endeavor banner, White was put into his new role after serving two decades as president of UFC.

Who started the UFC?

The UFC was started by Art Davie, Bob Meyrowitz, Ryan Troutsdale, Campbell McLaren, David Isaacs, John Millus, and Rorion Gracie. Davie and Gracie are credited as the founders with McLaren and Isaacs coming through Semaphore Entertainment Group.

When was the UFC founded?

Founded in 1993 by Davie and Gracie, the first event was held in 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the promotion was to identify the most effective martial art in a contest with minimal rules and no weight classes. Later, rigorous rules were created with weight classes playing a key part in the growth of the sport.

What does UFC stand for?

UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is the largest MMA promotion in the world.

How much is the UFC worth in 2024?

As of today, UFC is believed to be worth $12.3 billion, which is over triple that of the price it was bought for in 2016 at $4.025 billion. In 2023, they had a revenue of $1.3 billion U.S. with an operating income of $142.9 million.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Atlanta to be first race of NASCAR's In-Season Tournament
West Point alum made history in his MLB debut with Reds
Heat legend cautions Lakers against hiring JJ Redick
Welcome to the WNBA: Caitlin Clark sets infamous record in debut
Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to blowout win in Game 5 vs. Pacers
Nikola Jokic torches DPOY to lead Nuggets past Wolves in Game 5
Oilers use late heroics to tie Canucks at two games each
Watch: Astros pitcher ejected after foreign substance check
Kirk Cousins not angry with Falcons because winning is 'hard enough'
Bronny James has surprising comments on potentially teaming up with LeBron
Bills add two-time Super Bowl champ to new-look WR room
Brewers lose team-leading home run hitter to injured list
Sandy Alderson denies involvement in Mets, Billy Eppler IL controversy
Twins reliever shut down for six weeks with patellar tendon tear
Chris Finch throws shade at Nuggets star over Rudy Gobert’s fine
Cardinals head coach warns not to bet against Kyler Murray
Details emerge on Jason Kelce’s role at ESPN
Rangers defenseman wins Mark Messier Leadership Award
Ex-NFL head coach takes over as Arena Football League commish
Yankees young stud takes major step in return from injury

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.