Quick Facts: UFC
| Direct Owner | TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) |
| Ownership Type | Public (TKO), majority-controlled privately |
| Controlling Shareholder | Endeavor / WME Group (~63.9% of TKO) |
| TKO Executive Chair & CEO | Ari Emanuel |
| UFC President | Dana White |
| Founded | 1993 (bought by Zuffa/Fertitta brothers & White, 2001) |
| Sister Brand | WWE (also under TKO Group) |
Who Owns UFC?
UFC is owned by TKO Group Holdings, a publicly traded company that also owns WWE, with Endeavor — recently renamed WME Group after going private — holding roughly 63.9% controlling ownership.
UFC’s own path to this structure runs through Zuffa, LLC, the company Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the struggling UFC brand through in 2001, bringing in Dana White as president to rebuild it into a global sports property.
Endeavor, led by Ari Emanuel, bought a majority stake in Zuffa/UFC in 2016 for roughly $4 billion, then in 2023 merged its UFC holdings with WWE to form TKO Group Holdings, a new publicly traded entity combining both combat-sports and wrestling brands.
In March 2025, Endeavor itself went private in a $25 billion deal with investment firm Silver Lake and rebranded as WME Group, but TKO Group — and therefore UFC — remained publicly traded, with Emanuel continuing as TKO’s Executive Chair and CEO.
UFC Ownership History
| Year | Event | Owner / Key Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | UFC founded | Art Davie & Rorion Gracie | Original no-holds-barred format |
| 2001 | Bought by Zuffa, LLC | Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta + Dana White | Rebuilds UFC into mainstream sport |
| 2016 | Endeavor buys majority stake, ~$4 billion | Endeavor (Ari Emanuel) | Fertitta brothers exit |
| 2023 | UFC + WWE merge into TKO Group Holdings | Endeavor (majority) + public shareholders | New publicly traded parent company |
| 2025 | Endeavor goes private, becomes WME Group | Silver Lake + Ari Emanuel | TKO Group (and UFC) remains publicly traded |
About Dana White & Ari Emanuel
Dana White has run UFC’s day-to-day operations since 2001, becoming the sport’s most recognizable public face even as ownership above him has changed hands multiple times — from the Fertitta brothers to Endeavor to today’s TKO Group structure.
Ari Emanuel built Endeavor (formerly WME) into a sprawling entertainment and sports conglomerate before engineering both the TKO Group formation and Endeavor’s own subsequent take-private transaction, positioning himself at the top of the ownership chain for both UFC and WWE simultaneously.
Key Ownership Highlights
- UFC and WWE share the same ultimate corporate parent: both operate under TKO Group Holdings, majority-controlled by Endeavor/WME Group.
- Dana White has outlasted every ownership change since 2001: remaining UFC’s president through the Fertitta era, the Endeavor acquisition, and the TKO Group formation.
- The 2025 Endeavor take-private deal didn’t affect UFC’s public status: TKO Group stayed listed even as its controlling shareholder went private.
- Ari Emanuel sits atop both UFC and WWE’s ownership structure: serving as TKO’s Executive Chair and CEO while also leading WME Group.
- Vince McMahon remains a minority TKO shareholder: holding an equity stake tied to WWE’s side of the merger, despite stepping back from operational roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns UFC?
TKO Group Holdings, a publicly traded company majority-controlled by Endeavor (now WME Group) at roughly 63.9% ownership.
Is UFC the same company as WWE now?
They share the same corporate parent, TKO Group Holdings, but operate as separate brands within that structure.
Who is Dana White?
UFC’s president since 2001, who has run the organization’s day-to-day operations through multiple ownership changes.
Did Endeavor going private in 2025 change UFC’s ownership?
Endeavor itself went private and became WME Group, but TKO Group — UFC’s direct parent — remained publicly traded.
Who leads TKO Group Holdings?
Ari Emanuel, serving as Executive Chair and CEO.
Related: UFC’s Sister Brand
UFC shares its corporate parent, TKO Group Holdings, with WWE.
