Who owns the UFC? Take a look at the company's change of ownership over time

The world's premier mixed martial arts promotion UFC is owned by American holding company Endeavor Group Holdings. Endeavor holds a controlling interest in the fight organization with a 50.1% stake.

The remaining 49.9% stake is held between Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and MSD Capital.

However, the UFC hasn't always been the global combat sports spectacle that it is today. As per a report by MMA Channel, the promotion was originally launched in 1993 by WOW promotions after gathering funding from 28 investors.

Entrepreneur Art Davie, Brazilian jiu-jitsu grandmaster Rorion Gracie, screenwriter and director John Milius, as well as Bob Meyrowitz and David Isaacs are viewed as the original owners of the company.

WOW, in partnership with SEG, held its first UFC event on November 12, 1993. Davie and Gracie later sold their shares to SEG in 1995, disbanding WOW promotions in the process.

Later in 2001, on the brink of bankruptcy, the company changed hands to Zuffa LLC, when owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought it for $2 million. This is when Dana White took the helm as the promotion's president.

Later in 2016, Zuffa LLC was acquired by Endeavor for around $4 billion. The UFC is reportedly the biggest income generator for the Endeavor Group. The premier MMA promotion currently boasts over 60 broadcast partners globally and airs its content in more than 165 countries in 40 languages to over a billion households around the world.

According to a report by Fansided, the American MMA promotion is worth upwards of $8-9 billion as of 2022.

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Dana White explains the secret behind UFC's massive success

Dana White believes that controlling one's ego is the biggest step toward success. During an interview with TorchPro, the UFC president explained how he and the Fertitta brothers never let their egos come in the way of business.

Speaking in the segment, the 53-year-old cited the example of legendary hard rock band Guns N' Roses to cite how egos can be a hindrance to success:

"If you believe in what you're doing and you truly love what you're doing, you never let anything get in your way. There's so many things that can derail you. Number one, first and foremost, is your ego. You're telling me f*****g Guns N' Roses couldn't get back together and play?... You know how much money those guys lost... It's all because of ego."

White added:

"There's so many ways you could go sideways with your partners. Like me and the Fertitta brothers, we never allowed that to happen. We're as close now as we were back then. That's the major key to success... Keep your ego in check and dont lose your f*****g mind. Remember why you got into this, how it all started... It needed all three of us to do what we did to build it what it is today."

Catch Dana White's below: