REPORT: Kraft Group Part of Group Trying to Buy UFC

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The Kraft Group is part of an investment group attempting to buy the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a report said.

Sources tell ESPN that WME-IMG in conjunction with Dalian Wanda Group, and China Media Capital, have both put in bids of about $4.1 billion to buy the MMA league.

One of the investors in the WME-IMG bid includes the Kraft Group, which owns Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots, and New England Revolution. A spokesman declined to comment.

WME co-chair Ari Emanuel has been asking for $25 million to $50 million per investor, according to sources.

Rumors of a sale began last month when ESPN reported that the owners received bids in the $3.5 billion to $4 billion range.

If a sale happens, Zuffa, the company that owns UFC and is run by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, will get quite a return on their investment. In 2001, Zuffa bought UFC for about $2 million.