TKO Executives Address Saudi Arabia’s Investment In Professional Fighters League

From the TKO Group Holdings Earnings Call:

Competition is good. Not only do we have over 600 fighters, we have the premier fighters.

Advertisement

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.”