Eric Bischoff could have owned the UFC before it became a monster business, but he passed on the deal.
While speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff recalled getting a phone call years ago while he was out having a beer with his wife. The offer was simple and wild in hindsight: buy the UFC for around $2.5 million.
“You go back to the very beginning of the UFC because I remember it distinctly. I remember getting a phone call one Friday night when I was out having a beer with my wife and the guy that owned or was in top management, I can’t remember his name right now, called me and said, ‘Hey, do you do you would you like to buy the UFC for 2.5 million?’”
At the time, UFC was not exactly the empire fans know today. Bischoff said the promotion was struggling badly, with venues, politicians, and entire states pushing back against it. Bischoff said he was interested in the brand, but he did not feel like he was the right person to fix it.
“Now, at that time, UFC was they couldn’t get into venues. There was states trying to outlaw them. John McCain was, you know, pressuring, you know, trying to keep the milk, whatever. It was a big mess. And the business side of it was a mess. So, I had no I mean, I was interested in the brand, but not interested in the acquisition because I didn’t feel like there was anything that I could contribute to turn anything around. It just was what it was. So, anyway, passed on that.”
Yeah, that one has to sting a little now. Of course, UFC eventually became a global powerhouse under Dana White and the Fertitta brothers. Bischoff said he has huge respect for what they built, especially because they stuck with it even after losing a massive amount of money early on.
“But if you look at what Dana White did, the Fertittas coming in, they lost over $350 million on UFC before they made their first nickel. That’s a commitment, a big commitment.”
Bischoff made it clear he is a fan of UFC and admires what White helped turn it into. He also compared Dana White’s business success to Vince McMahon’s run with WWE, saying both men built major televised sports-style properties.
“And to see what Dana primarily with a lot of help has been able to build is just mind-boggling to me. Again, controversy aside, and I think those two promoters, if you look at Dana White, and that’s what they’re businessmen. Calling them promoters is unfair. And to see what Dana’s done, what Vince has done and building, you know, these televised sports like properties in the case of WWE, I’m I’m floored by it, particularly with Dana. It’s amazing what they’ve done.”
At the end of the day, Bischoff had a chance to buy UFC for $2.5 million when the company was fighting just to survive. He passed because the business looked too messy and he did not believe he could turn it around. Decades later, UFC is worth billions, making this one of the wildest “what if” stories in combat sports and wrestling history.
Do you think Eric Bischoff made the right call at the time, or did he miss out on the deal of a lifetime? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
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