May 12 2008
Is the UFC and MMA Monopoly?
The UFC is by far the most dominant MMA event there is, though there are many other organizations. But with the sports growing popularity, will the smaller shows feast or famine? Here is a recent talk with the CEO from the IFL on this topic.
“The former head of Showtime Sports continued, “We entertain phone calls and questions almost on a daily basis from potential investors, potential buyers, people who want to get in the MMA business, people who are already in the MMA business.”
he publicly traded International Fight League responded to a question from MMA News Desk.com regarding the potential sale of the company. During the media conference call last week, IFL CEO Jay Larkin stated “Are we actively looking for a partner or a sale? The answer is, yes.”
As of the writing of this story it appears there are discussions between IFL and MMA-based properties, although there is no confirmation any discussion has ever happened with UFC or Ultimate Fight prexy Dana White. UFC did not respond to a request for confirmation or denial by press time. Larkin also confirmed the MMA News Desk’s exclusive report that IFL will go on hiatus in between the upcoming May 16th event and “The Hex,” the scheduled debut of the new Hexagon-shaped ring on August 15th.
Larkin also thinks the key to MMA is solidarity between the promotions. “This harkens back to something I’ve been saying consistently, is that I do believe the MMA world is a fractured world, and the way to make it a healthier, stronger, and a mainstream sport and industry, is through consolidation and roll-up,” Larkin stated on the conference call, “there’s just too many little groups out there who are fighting over the same meatless bone.”
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