Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has a long and storied past. The transformation of UFC into a billion-dollar powerhouse under the leadership of CEO Dana White and his team is a remarkable feat. The 2016 sale of UFC from Zuffa LLC to Endeavor for $4 billion marked a significant milestone, with the organization’s value continuing to rise.
Just before UFC embarked on its path to riches with the groundbreaking agreement, there was a lesser-known chapter involving an attempted purchase by CBS, which was disclosed by White in a recent video interview.
White reminisced about a pivotal moment when CBS expressed interest in acquiring UFC while he was vacationing in Hawaii. A tense exchange unfolded during a phone call between White, Showtime representatives, and CBS executives, including Les Moonves. The friction peaked during the call, leading CBS to retract their offer.
The disagreement with Showtime, stemming from White’s dissatisfaction with the network’s production standards and past conflicts, derailed the potential deal with CBS. The unexpected clash on the phone call effectively brought the negotiations with CBS to an abrupt halt.
