From the TKO Group Holdings Earnings
Call:Competition is good. Not only do we have over 600 fighters, we have
the premier fighters.I mean, ultimately, you’re trying to get to the UFC, which is akin
to the XFL trying to ultimately get their players into the NFL.Those are… pic.twitter.com/0M47DYFYCo
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman)
November 7, 2023
Executives of TKO Group Holdings — the result of the
merger between the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World
Wrestling Entertainment – claim to have no issues with competitors
of the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
During the merger’s first earnings call, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and
TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro recently addressed Saudi
Arabia’s investment into the Professional Fighters League, a direct
competitor to the UFC. Saudi Arabia, which is emerging as a global
player in sports and entertainment, recently invested $100 million
in the Professional Fighters League through SRJ Sports Investments
— a new wing of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
Shortly thereafter, the UFC
announced an extension of its deal with Abu Dhabi, which
includes one pay-per-view and up to three Fight Night events on an
annual basis. The company also announced a partnership with Saudi
Arabia, with the first UFC event there
targeted for March 2024.
Shapiro sees no issues with SRJ’s investment in PFL, as he believes
competition helps with the growth of the sport. Shapiro also
believes that leagues like the PFL and Bellator will continue to
work as solid feeder leagues for the UFC, which he believes serves
as the ultimate destination for both fighters and investors.
“The investment that SRJ made in PFL, we look to our advantage. We
have no issue with Bellator, PFL, name your league. Competition is
good,” Shapiro said (transcription via
MMAFighting.com). “Not only do we have over 600 fighters, we
have the premiere fighters. Ultimately, you’re trying to get to the
UFC, which is akin to the XFL trying to ultimately get their
players into the NFL. That’s what we are. Those are pipeline and
feeder properties. In fact, we’re supportive of [PFL] being on
ESPN. PFL’s been on ESPN. We were totally supportive of that deal
and the Saudi experience should prove out well for us.
“All we know is they [Saudi Arabia] want more MMA, which is great
for us. The more they have, the more it’s really going to just
serve as an appetizer to what will be the meal, which is UFC.”