UFC Corporate Parent TKO Holdings Prepares To Beef Up Revenues For 2025, With UFC And WWE Working On Media Deals
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By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportBiz.com UFC Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The corporate parent of Las Vegas-based UFC, TKO Group Holdings, reported revenue of $2.8 billion for its full year and is projecting to generate even more revenue in 2025.
TKO Group also owns entertainment promoters WWE and Professional Bull Riders (PBR), with both staging events in Las Vegas. WWE’s big WrestleMania event is slated for Allegiant Stadium in April.
UFC generated an extra $61.1 million in its last reporting quarter, up 22 percent from the same reporting period last year — bringing its annual total to $1.406 billion.
Looking ahead, TKO is eyeing between $2.93 billion and $3 billion in revenue for 2025, but that number could climb even higher. The company is set to finalize a $3.25 billion deal to acquire On Location, IMG, and PBR mid-year, adding event hospitality, sports marketing, and bull riding to its growing empire.
Major Deals Ahead for UFC, WWE, and Boxing Expansion
UFC and WWE are both heading into critical broadcast rights negotiations, with UFC’s deal with Disney-ESPN and WWE’s agreement with Peacock both set to expire. However, a business move looming for TKO is its anticipated entry into boxing.
UFC President Dana White has long expressed interest in launching a boxing venture, but previously held off due to the sport’s fractured structure. Now, with TKO’s financial backing and Saudi Arabia’s recent moves to reshape boxing’s business model, the long-rumored expansion is inching closer to becoming reality.
TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro confirmed during a recent financial earnings call that an agreement with Saudi Arabia is in its final stages.
“Everybody knows we’re in talks with the Saudis, but to give you a little more color, I will tell you that we are close on an agreement with the Saudis on the creation of a boxing league,” Shapiro said. “TKO would be the producer, the promoter, and responsible for all day-to-day operations of the venture, where we would receive a fee of $10 million plus.”
Shapiro also confirmed that a TKO delegation, including WWE CEO Nick Khan, UFC COO Lawrence Epstein, and CFO Andrew Schleimer, traveled to London for high-level meetings with Saudi officials. Shapiro emphasized that TKO will remain insulated from financial risk, with the venture structured to be “value accretive” while leveraging the company’s in-house expertise, particularly from White and Khan.
First ‘TKO Takeover’ Set for Kansas City
In a separate move, TKO announced its first-ever TKO Takeover, a five-day event that will feature UFC, WWE, and PBR under one roof at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City from April 24-28. The event serves as a live showcase of TKO’s expanded portfolio, integrating its newest assets alongside its flagship combat sports brands. VeChain, UFC’s blockchain partner, will serve as the presenting sponsor.
Las Vegas Remains Key as WWE’s WrestleMania and On Location Experiences Arrive
While TKO expands into new ventures, Las Vegas remains its strongest market, with both UFC and WWE set for major events in the city.
WWE’s WrestleMania 41 is set for April 19-20 at Allegiant Stadium, marking the first time the company’s biggest event lands in Las Vegas since WrestleMania IX in 1993. TKO’s newly acquired On Location will be a key player in the event, producing high-end fan experiences, including exclusive ticket packages, premium seating, VIP hospitality, and athlete meet-and-greets.
The Las Vegas ties don’t stop there. UFC continues to anchor its presence at T-Mobile Arena with a full slate of pay-per-view events including this weekend’s UFC 313. As TKO moves into boxing, Las Vegas could serve as a natural hub for future marquee fights.
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