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The UFC is seeking $1 billion from the next broadcast deal, allegedly. Elsewhere, Bellator, as we knew it, may not be there anymore.
Here are your biggest combat sports rumors from this week, presented by Sportskeeda MMA.
UFC wants a billion-dollar deal
The UFC's long-running relationship with ESPN ends in 2025. It started in 2018 with a five-year contract worth $1.5 billion. It was then extended for two more years and pay-per-views were included. It is now worth approximately $450 million a year.
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According to a Bloomberg report, the promotion is seeking $1 billion per year for their next media rights deal more than double the amount currently paid by ESPN.
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The publication also claimed that Amazon, YouTube, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Discovery are the frontrunners, with ESPN also in the pool for a potential renewal.
Who is the next Dana White?
Nothing lasts forever and neither will Dana White's reign as the UFC top boss. But who is well-fitted to take on the job? Daniel Cormier believes it is Hunter Campbell, the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer.
In a conversation with Mike Bohn on Bohnfire, Cormier said:
"It was only a few years ago that he took the lead on negotiations and everything... But just listen to the amount of fighters that not only tip their cap to Dana White anymore, but to Hunter Campbell."
Cormier then agreed to Bohn's suggestion that it seems like Campbell could replace White as the next UFC President/CEO:
"Absolutely. That's exactly what it feels like."
"Bellator, as we know it, is no more" - Ariel Helwani
In November 2023, PFL acquired Bellator and presented itself as a formidable challenger to the UFC.
Following the acquisition, founder Donn Davis labeled Bellator as a "one-off event product from the PFL platform." He also said that it worried Dana White about competition in the industry.
On Monday, Ariel Helwani reported on his show that PFL was being restructured and the Bellator brand would be removed from the organization. He revealed that PFL will reportedly have divisional champions on top of season champions, but none of the sources could disclose the exact nature of how they will be crowned. Helwani speculated that the Bellator champions would become the new PFL divisional titleholders.
Listen to Ariel Helwani's report below:
This comes after multiple complaints from Bellator fighters about a lack of fight bookings and general ill-treatment.
Tom Aspinall has agreed to the Jon Jones fight
Tom Aspinall recently shared an update on the much-talked-about heavyweight title unification fight with Jon Jones. The Brit said on his YouTube channel:
"I’ve said ‘yes’ to the fight [vs. Jon Jones]. I’ve agreed to it, obviously, and yes that’s it. [I’m] just waiting for his side and the UFC to sort it out."
After his last title defense against Stipe Miocic, 'Bones' showed no interest in fighting Aspinall and instead called Alex Pereira out. However, many fighters believe that this is a negotiation tactic or promotional strategy by Jones to hype up the fight.
