Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, announced on Tuesday the completion of a deal in which a 10-percent interest in the company to the Abu Dhabi government-owned Flash Entertainment.
Flash Entertainment was formed two years ago by the Abu Dhabi government’s Executive Affairs Authority, which brings big-name entertainment and sporting events to the United Arab Emirates and the city, including big-name concerts, Formula 1 racing, and in recent weeks, a Rihanna New Year’s Eve concert and the Capitala World Tennis Championship.
Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is affiliated with Flash Entertainment, is an MMA fanatic who promoted early world submission grappling championship events through the Abu Dhabi Combat Club. He was attending college in the U.S. and saw the first UFC event live in 1993.