Owners of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have refuted recent reports that they were already in "advanced talks" to sell the Las Vegas-based company. UFC president Dana White said that the report in this regard from ESPN is exaggerated.
Commenting on the UFC sale reports, Dana White told The Las Vegas Review-Journal that the company was not for sale and described the ESPN report as "overblown." On the other hand, a statement issued by UFC spokesman Dave Sholler said that being a private company, they do not discuss speculation or rumors associated with their business.
Last week, Darren Rovell of ESPN reported that four companies had not only expressed interest in acquiring UFC, but also placed their bids for the mixed martial arts promotion company. The report identified China Media Capital, WME/IMG, Dalian Wanda Group and The Blackstone Group as the bidders for UFC. Moreover, Rovell speculated that the bids were in the range of $3.5 - $4 billion.
Dana White along with the Fertitta brothers, Frank and Lorenzo purchased UFC for $2 billion in 2001.
There could be a time in future when the Fertitta brothers, who own majority stakes in the UFC, and their personal friend Dana White, a minor share holder in the company, may choose to part ways, but it is not yet time for such a situation, Latin Times reported.
Meanwhile, Rovell also reported that Goldman Sachs was representing UFC in the sales talks. Incidentally, Godman Sachs was the investment advisor of UFC in 2010, when Flash Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government, acquired 10 percent stake in the company.
Before selling the company's shares to Flash Entertainment, the two Fertitta brothers owned 45 percent stake each in the company, while White controlled the remaining 10 percent. After the sale of selling 10 percent stake to Flash Entertainment, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta now control 40.5 percent stake each, while White's share in the company has dropped to 9 percent, Jobs N Hire reported.
Meanwhile, rumors about the sale of UFC have been circulating since the last 10 years, but nothing has materialized so far. Though there have been several expressions of interest in the company, it certainly does not translate to sale.
Watch Dana White's interview on UFC sale rumors below: