Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
NEW YORK and MIAMI - July 28, 2021 – Combate Global, LLC and Univision Communications Inc., the leading Spanish-language media and content company in the U.S., today announced that Univision has acquired a significant equity stake in the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise. The agreement goes into effect immediately.
The transaction formally aligns Combate Global's world-class talent and deep connection to the MMA community with Univision's promotional and production capabilities, positioning the fight organization for international expansion. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the companies’ recent five-year media rights deal that features 30 live television events airing annually – a total of 150 events – many of which will take place live from Univision’s studios in Miami, Florida.
“Since teaming up in 2018 Univision and Combate Global have created an entirely new audience for MMA. Today, those content hungry fans, combined with our dynamic athletes, represent the future of the sport. This announcement underscores Univision’s commitment to Hispanic MMA and we could not be more excited to further strengthen our successful partnership with them,” said Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren.
“This investment marks the first step in Univision’s broader strategy to deliver more exciting, live combat sports to our audience,” said Juan Carlos Rodriguez, president of Sports Enterprises, Univision. “Combat sports rank as the second most popular sport among Hispanics. We’re excited to take our successful partnership to the next level as we collaborate with the Combate team to elevate the brand and bring compelling mixed martial arts content across the Univision platforms for years to come.”
Combate Global programming began airing live on Univision in 2018, when the company was known as “Combate Americas,” shifting the paradigm in the MMA business by pursuing a strategy to make the content as accessible as possible on Univision’s multi-platform ecosystem and becoming the only MMA sports franchise to be programmed on free-to-air, cable TV and digital platforms.
The property has averaged 425,000 Total Viewers 2+ viewers in the U.S in 2021 to-date on Univision, making it the highest-rated Spanish language program in its time slot. Additionally, Combate’s July 23rd event delivered 543,000 Total Viewers 2+, the second largest audience ever for the program and highest since 4/13/18. Meanwhile, 47% of the Combate audience is made up of the coveted Adults 18-49 demographic, the highest percentage among all MMA properties year to-date.
Source: Nielsen, NPM, L+SD data, thru 7/23/21
###
ABOUT COMBATE GLOBAL
Combate Global, previously “Combate Americas,” is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport after soccer for Spanish speaking fans worldwide. The company is dedicated to developing the best, new MMA athletes from different countries while matching them against one another in country vs. country-style competition. Each year of Combate Global action culminates with “COPA COMBATE,” the toughest one-night tournament in sports that has established itself as the World Cup of MMA and the most coveted destination for representing one’s country.
The Combate Global franchise includes live event and original shoulder programming, and is the only MMA property regularly airing on broadcast television in both the U.S. (Univision) and Mexico (Televisa). Nielsen research indicates that an astounding 91 percent of Combate Global viewers are not regular viewers of other MMA content, demonstrating that Combate Global has garnered a new MMA audience.
Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren, also the co-founder and creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been described by New York Magazine as "the marketing genius behind the UFC,” while Yahoo Sports has said he "knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today." Under his direction, the growth of Combate Americas’ television footprint and worldwide audience triggered a re-branding in 2021 to Combate Global.
ABOUT UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.
As the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the U.S., Univision Communications Inc. entertains, informs and empowers U.S. Hispanics with news, sports and entertainment content across broadcast and cable television, audio and digital platforms. The Company’s top-rated media portfolio includes the Univision and UniMás broadcast networks, as well as 10 cable networks including Galavisión and TUDN, the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network in the country. Locally, Univision owns or operates 61 television stations in major Hispanic markets across the United States. Additionally, Uforia, the Home of Latin Music, encompasses 58 owned or operated radio stations, a live event series and a robust digital audio footprint. The Company’s prominent digital assets include Univision.com, free AVOD streaming service PrendeTV, Univision Now, the largest Hispanic influencer network, and several top-rated apps. For more information, visit corporate.univision.com.
ABOUT TUDN
TUDN is the multimedia sports division of Univision Communications Inc., the leading Spanish-language content and media company in the U.S. Built around the flagship TUDN cable network, the nation’s No. 1 Spanish-language sports channel, TUDN reaches audiences across Univision’s television portfolio, as well as through the TUDN Radio Network, the TUDN mobile app and TUDN.tv. TUDN possesses an industry-leading portfolio of live soccer rights through partnerships with 14 Liga MX clubs, the Mexican Football Federation, US Soccer, UEFA, Concacaf, Major League Soccer, CONMEBOL, and many more.
