'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgkQAAIBAgYDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwAEBQYHERITITFSAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBhEAAgIDAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAARIRJx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCZ1i1NS40nwDMUOHK9pmXEbmCK1uj2hVsWO/cF4hg/yKz6lWaSV3WUqGYkKo4gAn0B52FKUFlijoFOgyej9LHKmrTrSwzM8YJSw0a9PFVRoZ//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
According to a report by CNBC on Sunday, UFC's parent company Endeavor is close to finalizing a deal to acquire WWE for $9.3 billion. There has been a lot of talk about WWE being sold over the last few months and these rumors are finally nearing a conclusion.
As part of the agreement, Endeavor will establish a new public company to oversee the UFC and WWE. In the proposed merger, WWE shareholders would own 49% of the business, and Endeavor/UFC would own 51%. The American holding company for talent and media agencies was founded in April 2009 and headed by CEO Ari Emanuel and executive chairman Patrick Whitesell.
Emanuel will continue to run both organizations. Mark Shapiro, president of the American holding company, and Vince McMahon will both serve as executive chairmen. Dana White will continue to serve as UFC president, while current WWE CEO Nick Khan will lead the world leader in professional wrestling.
CNBC reports that the acquisition of WWE might be officially revealed as early as Monday. On March 23, after a lengthy investigation, he repaid WWE $17.4 million for the settlement money he allegedly took from the company's accounts.
In 2016, Endeavor bought the UFC's controlling shareholding. In 2021, the firm acquired full ownership of the premier MMA organization by acquiring the remaining stockholders.
In 2019, UFC and ESPN signed a five-year broadcast deal in which ESPN would become the exclusive home of UFC's pay-per-view events. The contract is up for renewal at the close of 2023, about the same time that WWE's television rights contracts with NBCUniversal and Fox run out.
Jake Paul believes UFC parent company Endeavor acquiring WWE will help improve fighter pay
The history of Jake Paul's public feud with the UFC top brass has created tension between him and the organization.
Paul has publicly criticized UFC president Dana White on social media, alleging that White has underpaid and poorly compensated UFC fighters. White has dismissed Paul's accusations, going as far as to dare his critics to start their own fight business.
'The Problem Child' has also faced several UFC legends in the boxing ring, scoring victories over the likes of Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Many in the MMA community view Paul as an inconsiderate outsider attempting to profit from their sport.
Reacting to the latest reports that suggest the UFC's parent company will acquire WWE, Paul wrote on Twitter:
"UFC + WWE makes too much sense. Great path to increasing fighter pay."
Check out the tweet below:
