UFC’s Financial milestone in 2023: Global leader in MMA makes over a Billion-Dollar in Revenue

Damon Martin analyzes UFC's impressive 2023 finances, showing significant revenue increase, boosted by ESPN partnership, live events, and merchandise sales, forecasting a promising future with lucrative deals.

UFC’s Financial milestone in 2023: Global leader in MMA makes over a Billion-Dollar in Revenue

Record breaking 2023 for UFC (Image via: X)

The UFC is the fastest-growing sports league in the world. The growth was rapid during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as they were the first to hold events. With Dana White at the helm, the UFC became immensely popular, and its revenue rose. Even without the sport’s biggest star, Conor McGregor, the company experienced significant growth in popularity. MMA Fightings’ Damon Martin recently provided his overview of the UFC’s 2023 financial year.

Martin provided a financial analysis of the UFC’s business. This is what he wrote about in his article for MMA Fighting.

In the nine-month span ending on Sept. 30, the UFC earned revenue reaching $1,009.4 billion which was up from $868.4 million from the same time in 2022. .......ESPN, which has paid out $702.5 million through September. That number is up more than $80 million from 2022. Live events accounted for $115.6 million, with sponsorship totaling $148 million. Finally, consumer products, which includes t-shirt and merchandise sales, hit $43.3 million thus far in 2023.
Damon Martin via MMA Fighting
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The $1 billion revenue generation is staggering because it does not include the revenue for the final three months of 2023. The media rights with ESPN also add significantly to its revenue. Moreover, the events at the UFC APEX, with very low operational costs, also significantly contribute to revenue. UFC 295 had the highest live gate of 2023, and UFC 289 had the lowest.

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The future looks bright for the promotion. In 2024, the UFC will begin its partnership with Anheuser-Busch for Bud Light which bags them $100 million per year. The UFC will also bag a $20 million site fee for events in Saudi Arabia in addition to the PPV event in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, in 2025, all signs point to UFC bagging a multi-billion dollar broadcast deal.

The 2022 Financial year of the UFC

2022 was the year when normalcy returned to daily life after the COVID-19 pandemic. The company generated $370 million in profits for the year. The annual revenue of Endeavor, the then parent company of the UFC, was more than $1.3 billion. It was just $800 million in 2021.

UFC broke record finances in 2023 (Image via: X)

Since the government lifted the ban on live events with fans in attendance, the UFC had a 29-event sellout streak. Moreover, the promotion also broke 11 arena records, four Fight Nights records in the US, and two Fight Night records in the O2 Arena in London.

The social media engagements of the UFC also soared, with a 55% increase in TikTok. 2022 was the year that the UFC unofficially announced that they would be taking on big leagues in the future. It proved true as they broke several records in 2023. Moreover, many, including MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, predicted greater things in store for 2024 and 2025.

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