Editing Ultimate Fighting Championship (section)

==Relationships with combat sports organizations==

===International Fight League===
Throughout the existence of the [[International Fight League]] (IFL) between 2006 and 2008, both UFC and the IFL had competed in a hostile relationship. UFC accused the IFL and sued them for illegally using proprietary information obtained by hiring executives from their organization. The IFL responded with their own suit claiming that UFC was threatening potential partners not to work with the IFL, including [[Fox Sports Net]] (a deal with Fox Sports was later signed before resolution of the suit<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/IFL-Inks-Broadcast-Deal-with-Fox-Sports-Net-4205 |title=IFL Inks Broadcast Deal with Fox Sports Net |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2006-03-29 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref>). The tension between the IFL and the UFC worsened with accusations that the IFL had attempted to buy out several top UFC fighters.

In July 2008, there were reports of the IFL's possible purchase by the UFC.<ref>{{cite web|first=Corey|last=Lorinsky|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/7/ufc-might-buy-clobbered-international-fight-league-ifli- |title=Hope For KO-ed International Fight League (IFLI): UFC Might Buy It* |work=Business Insider |date=2008-07-18 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> That same month, Joe Favorito, former IFL senior vice president, cited financial troubles for the closing of the company on July 31, 2008. Anonymous sources stated that UFC had bought the IFL.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zuffa purchases IFL|url=http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news/805:zuffa-purchases-ifl/|work=Fight Network|access-date=August 1, 2011}}</ref> Other reports cited the UFC's airing of IFL footage on its programming, and the signing of previous IFL fighters, as an indirect confirmation of the purchase.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091201045527/http://www.5thround.com/07252008/news/1293/ifl-going-goinggone/]}}</ref>

===World Fighting Alliance===
On December 11, 2006, the UFC acquired the assets of the [[World Fighting Alliance]], and formed WFA Enterprises, LLC. as a subsidiary to handle these assets, including select fighter contracts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=3959 |title=Subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC Acquires Assets from World Fighting Alliance, Inc |publisher=Ufc.com |access-date=2012-09-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410002850/http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=3959 |archive-date=2010-04-10 }}</ref> On the same day, it was reported that UFC was formalizing plans to buy [[World Extreme Cagefighting]], to be run as a separate promotion.{{Update inline|date=November 2020|reason=}}

===World Extreme Cagefighting===
Following the purchase of the [[World Extreme Cagefighting]] (WEC), UFC made several changes to the promotion. This included modifying the WEC's cage, transferring to a focus on lighter weight classes, giving it the ability to host events in [[Las Vegas]], and having the championships of fighters who were contracted UFC fighters vacated. From 2007 to the end of 2010, the WEC was run as a separate promotion under the UFC banner, airing events [[WEC 28|28]] to [[WEC 53|53]] on [[Versus (TV channel)|Versus]] in the US and on [[The Score Television Network|The Score]] in Canada. On October 28, 2010, [[Dana White]] announced that the WEC would be absorbed into the UFC in early 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCIWWLnJSN4&feature=sub  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/zCIWWLnJSN4 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Exclusive: Dana White Announces UFC-WEC Merger |date=October 28, 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-08-06}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Pride Fighting Championships===
{{main|Pride Fighting Championships#Pride Worldwide era}}

On March 27, 2007, it was announced that the UFC's [[Frank Fertitta III]] and [[Lorenzo Fertitta]] were acquiring the assets of [[Pride Fighting Championships]], the UFC's largest rival, from [[Dream Stage Entertainment]]. To handle the take over, the Fertitta brothers created a new corporate entity to handle the assets, Pride FC Worldwide Holdings LLC. With common ownership in place, Zuffa and Pride Worldwide would be working closely together.<ref>[http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3053&zoneid=13] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111019/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3053&zoneid=13|date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> Although goals of reviving Pride were not realized, many of Pride's assets, including contracts with fighters and intellectual property, are now regularly utilized by the UFC.

===Strikeforce===
On March 12, 2011, it was announced that the UFC had purchased [[Strikeforce (mixed martial arts)|Strikeforce]]<ref name="sports.espn.go.com">{{cite web|first=Josh |last=Gross |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=6209923 |title=UFC parent company Zuffa buys rival MMA promoter Strikeforce |publisher=ESPN |date=2011-03-13 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Helwani |first=Ariel |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/03/12/zuffa-purchases-strikeforce/ |title=Zuffa Purchases Strikeforce |date=March 12, 2011 |publisher=MMA Fighting |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Whitman |first=Mike |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Zuffa-Purchases-Strikeforce-30800 |title=Zuffa Purchases Strikeforce |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2011-03-12 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22807/ufc-purchases-strikeforce.mma |title=UFC purchases Strikeforce; UFC boss says organizations to operate independently |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |date=2011-03-12 |access-date=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731021112/http://mmajunkie.com/news/22807/ufc-purchases-strikeforce.mma |archive-date=2012-07-31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Stupp |first=Dann |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22822/ufc-officially-announces-strikeforce-purchase-fertitta-says-coker-to-run-promotion.mma |title=UFC officially announces Strikeforce purchase, Fertitta says Coker to run promotion |publisher=MMAjunkie.com |date=2011-03-14 |access-date=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023144456/http://mmajunkie.com/news/22822/ufc-officially-announces-strikeforce-purchase-fertitta-says-coker-to-run-promotion.mma |archive-date=2012-10-23 }}</ref> in a deal made with partial owner [[Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment]].<ref name="sports.espn.go.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/309950/Coker-tried-failed-to-get-control-of-Strikeforce/ |title=Coker tried, failed to get control of Strikeforce – Mixed Martial Arts News |publisher=Mixedmartialarts.com |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> The amount of money involved has not been officially disclosed, however, it has been reported that the deal was worth $40 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/309911/Zuffa-reportedly-paid-40-million-for-Strikeforce/ |title=Zuffa reportedly paid $40 million for Strikeforce – Mixed Martial Arts News |publisher=Mixedmartialarts.com |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> The deal included licensing rights, fighter contracts, and the Strikeforce video library.<ref name="bloodyelbow.com">{{cite web|last=Prophet |first=Zombie |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/3/13/2047456/ufc-strikeforce-acquisition-more-details-emerge |title=More Details Emerge on UFC Acquisition of Strikeforce |publisher=Bloody Elbow |date=2011-03-13 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref name="sports.espn.go.com"/> Strikeforce continued to operate as a separate company, similar to that of the WEC, until January 12, 2013. After the final show was held in [[Oklahoma City]], the promotion was dissolved and several fighter contracts were absorbed into the UFC.

===United Glory===
When [[United Glory]] was originally formed in 2006, it was known as Ultimate Glory before a lawsuit with UFC forced a name change.<ref>{{cite web|last=Leidecker |first=Tim |url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/European-Throwdown-Overeem-Goodridge-in-Works-14278 |title=European Throwdown: Overeem-Goodridge in Works |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2008-09-04 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref>

===Invicta Fighting Championships===
In June 2014 the UFC announced that they had signed a multi-year, multi-event broadcast deal to show and archive all [[Invicta FC|Invicta Fighting Championships]] events on [[UFC Fight Pass]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-pass-incivta-deal|title=UFC FIGHT PASS signs historic content deal with Invicta FC|work=UFC|date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/5/5784496/ufc-inks-distribution-deal-of-all-invicta-events-for-fight-pass|title=UFC inks distribution deal of all Invicta events for Fight Pass|first=Dave|last=Meltzer|date=June 6, 2014|work=MMA Fighting}}</ref> This has allowed the UFC to further expand its women's divisions by adding a [[Minimumweight|strawweight]] division in July 2014, and signing Invicta fighters such as [[Carla Esparza]] and [[Felice Herrig]].

===Shooto===
In June 2014 the UFC announced that they had signed a development deal with the recently revived, [[Vale Tudo Japan]]. A brand that was brought back in 2012 by the long running, [[Shooto]] promotion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-signs-development-deal-with-shooto-in-japan|title=UFC and Japan's VTJ Sign Historic Deal|work=UFC|date=September 14, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/story/ufc-signs-developmental-deal-with-shooto-in-japan-062614|title=UFC signs developmental deal with SHOOTO in Japan|work=FOX Sports}}</ref> The UFC plans on promoting and operating a new tournament series that will focus on [[Bantamweight (MMA)|135]] and [[Featherweight (MMA)|145]] pound divisions. There were plans of a ''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]''-like TV show to help promote these tournaments but it is unclear on what the status remains on it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fansided.com/2014/06/26/ufc-partners-former-shooto-promotion/|title=UFC partners with former Shooto promotion|work=FanSided|date=June 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/26/5844564/ufc-partners-with-vale-tudo-japan-for-tv-show-and-tournament|title=UFC partners with Vale Tudo Japan for TV show and tournament|first=Dave|last=Meltzer|date=June 26, 2014|work=MMA Fighting}}</ref>