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UFC earned over $1 Billion Revenue in 2023

Writer's picture: Larry LightfingerLarry Lightfinger



The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has reported record revenues for the nine-month period ending on September 30, 2023, even before factoring in the final quarter of the year, which included high-profile events in Abu Dhabi, New York, and Las Vegas.

During this period, the UFC's revenue reached a staggering $1,009.4 billion, marking a significant increase from $868.4 million in the same period in 2022.


Breaking down the sources of revenue, the majority came from media rights, particularly the UFC's deal with ESPN, which accounted for $702.5 million in revenue through September, showing an increase of over $80 million from the previous year.


Live events contributed $115.6 million to the revenue, while sponsorship deals totaled $148 million. Consumer products, including merchandise sales, reached $43.3 million in revenue for 2023.


These figures are expected to rise further during the holiday season, especially in consumer products sales.


While the UFC is required to report financial disclosures as a publicly traded company, specific details about pay-per-view (PPV) sales are not disclosed. However, given the overall revenue growth, it is inferred that PPV sales have been robust.


Despite challenges such as changes in fight cards, UFC events have continued to draw significant live gate numbers. For example, UFC 295 in New York produced a live gate of $12,432,563, the second-highest ever at Madison Square Garden, despite losing its original main event.


Looking at the overall live gate figures for 2023 PPVs, UFC 295 in New York had the highest attendance and live gate, while UFC 289 in Vancouver had the lowest live gate at $3,834,893.


The UFC's cost-cutting strategy, particularly with events held at the UFC APEX, has also proven successful. These events, which incur minimal costs apart from talent and production staff, have been supplemented by the UFC's partnership with On Location premium event services, where fans can purchase VIP experiences for upwards of $2,000 per ticket.



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