Report: UFC taking bids this week for 100 percent sale of company

The Zuffa era of the UFC could be coming to an end soon.

On Thursday, the organization reportedly fielded sealed and private bids for a potential sale of 100 percent control of the UFC, according to FloCombat's Jeremy Botter, citing multiple sources.

The report states the bids range from $4 billion to $4.2 billion, with the sources claiming a sale "will be executed imminently." The highest bidder is allegedly a group combining the William Morris Endeavor Agency and the Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group.

UFC president Dana White has said he'd leave the UFC should it be sold, because of his close relationship with executives Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, but there's a possibility he'll be kept on board in some capacity to maintain current business operations.

Rumors of the sale have been floating around for some time, and it was mentioned again earlier this week by Ariel Helwani, who described the sale as "definitely progressing."

Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer also confirmed the reports in his newsletter, courtesy of Bloody Elbow, writing: "The bidding period is expected to end this week, on or around 6/16, regarding a sale that is expected to be in the $4-billion price range for 100 percent ownership of the UFC."

The Fertitta brothers purchased the UFC in January 2001 for $2 million, establishing Zuffa LLC as a parent company. They currently own 81 percent of the promotion, with White owning nine percent, and the other 10 percent belonging to other parties.