TKO issued the following:
TKO Successfully Stages First-Ever WWE and UFC Doubleheader in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan
WWE Night of Champions in Riyadh and UFC FIGHT NIGHT: FIZIEV vs TORRES in Baku Deliver Sold-Out Crowds
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) today announced the successful staging of two major international events in the Middle East and a neighboring market, with WWE® Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: FIZIEV vs TORRES in Baku, Azerbaijan. Both events delivered sold-out arenas, strong partner support, and significant fan engagement locally and globally.
Held on Saturday, June 27, the events marked the first same-night WWE and UFC event pairing in the region, creating a historic TKO doubleheader.
“Demand for premium live sports and entertainment in the Middle East and surrounding markets remains incredibly strong,” said Andrew Schleimer, Chief Financial Officer, TKO. “Coming just two weeks after the unprecedented success of UFC Freedom 250, these events further underscore the near and long-term strength of the TKO business. They also reflect our continued commitment to delivering our live events in the region as planned.”
In Riyadh, WWE and its local partners at the GEA presented Night of Champions from a sold-out Kingdom Arena, drawing more than 18,000 fans and featuring a record number of partners. Across WWE’s main social channels, Night of Champions generated 186.8 million social video views, highlighted by 74.2 million views related to Sami Zayn’s WWE Championship victory.
In Baku, UFC returned to Azerbaijan with UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: FIZIEV vs TORRES at National Gymnastics Arena, where more than 10,500 fans attended the sold-out event.
Approximately 40 percent of ticket purchases came from outside Azerbaijan, with attendees representing 72 countries.
Across UFC’s social channels, the event generated more than 612.9 million impressions and 297.3 million video views. UFC also saw strong fan turnout across fight week activities, bolstered by support from local organizers and brand partners. Closing out UFC’s second trip to Azerbaijan on a high note, local superstar Rafael Fiziev collected a second-round stoppage win over Manuel Torres in a lightweight division showdown.
Both events are examples of a growing number of partnerships between TKO and government entities and private-sector organizations in communities around the world that are eager to host TKO’s marquee live events. Through these relationships, TKO is reaching more fans in more markets, delivering must-see experiences while generating meaningful economic and cultural impact for host communities.
About TKO
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO’s businesses include UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization; and its joint venture Zuffa Boxing, a professional boxing promotion. Together, these properties reach more than 1 billion households across 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.
About WWE
WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network, and The CW. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, with more than 700 million fans and approximately 363 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while distributing programming to an estimated 1 billion broadcast and digital households across 210 countries and territories. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes, representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok.
