LOS ANGELES -- In less than 16 years, the UFC has grown from a money-losing company in a widely reviled sport into a global entertainment property worth $4 billion.While the UFC and its new owners figure out the companys next steps, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta are tapping out of mixed martial arts with a remarkable return on a $2 million investment.The UFC has been sold for approximately $4 billion to a group led by Hollywood entertainment conglomerate WME-IMG, both companies confirmed Monday.The sale will spectacularly benefit the Fertitta brothers and UFC President Dana White, who first persuaded his wealthy high school buddies to buy the cage fighting promotion in 2001. White also owned 9 percent of the company, and he isnt going anywhere despite his own windfall: Hell remain the boss and public face of the UFC while keeping an ownership stake.No other sport compares to UFC, White said. Our goal has always been to put on the biggest and the best fights for our fans, and to make this the biggest sport in the world. Im looking forward to working with WME-IMG to continue to take this sport to the next level.Since their purchase of IMG three years ago, WME co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell have been pursuing properties throughout sports and entertainment ahead of a possible initial public offering. The UFC is their biggest buy yet -- and the deal appears to be the largest single financial transaction in the history of sports.Were now committed to pursuing new opportunities for UFC and its talented athletes to ensure the sports continued growth and success on a global scale, Emanuel said.In their first public comments about the deal, White and the new owners have suggested little will change at first for the promotion. The UFC has a full slate of fights scheduled this year, all building toward its long-awaited debut at Madison Square Garden in November after New York legalized MMA earlier this year.But the UFCs new financial backing and WME-IMGs marketing dexterity seem certain to lead to even more growth and global prominence for MMAs dominant promotion, which has bought out or eliminated many of its competitors in the sport.UFC has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade and we are looking forward to helping the organization and its athletes identify new opportunities to develop and further establish their global footprint, Emanuel said.Few companies do that better than WME, but the UFC has also been pretty good at building stars in its own violent milieu.After helping Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz to straddle the line between sports and entertainment, the promotion now boasts a stable of elite athletes with mainstream fame, including Conor McGregor, Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey, who is represented by WME.Its too soon to tell whether the deal will lead to more money for the UFCs non-unionized athletes. The promotion regularly receives criticism from mid-level fighters for its pay scale, but its ability to control talent costs is a major factor in its profitability.For instance, Lesnar made a disclosed $2.5 million along with probable millions in undisclosed bonuses for his victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 last Saturday. T.J. Dillashaw, the promotions former bantamweight champion, made $50,000 for his fight, and that includes a $25,000 bonus only paid because he won.McGregor, who makes multiple millions for each of his fights, congratulated the Fertittas on his Twitter account. Other UFC fighters took to social media on Monday to speculate hopefully about the impact of the deal.Perfect time to change the revenue split to 46/54 percent to be equal to the other major sports, tweeted featherweight Jeremy Stephens, with the hashtag weallneedtoeat .Cristiane Cyborg Justino also tweeted her congratulations. The vaunted Brazilian fighter signed with the UFC in March despite acknowledging she struggles to make the 135-pound limit on the UFCs largest womens weight class.Big things coming! Justino said. Hopefully a few new (womens MMA) weight classes too! Im ready.The UFCs price tag has drawn gasps since it was first rumored earlier this year, but the consortium is basically buying an entire sport, given the UFCs omnipotence atop MMA. Bellator and other ostensible competitors draw a fraction of the UFCs revenue and attention.With more than 500 athletes under contract, the UFC stages roughly 40 events per year and is broadcast in more than 150 countries, reaching 1.1 billion television households. The UFC is frequently described as the worlds largest pay-per-view event provider, and it also has a prolific digital streaming service, UFC Fight Pass, that it describes as Netflix for fight fans and is a key component of potential growth.Whats more, the UFCs broadcast deal with Fox also ends in 2018, and the next contract is expected to be lucrative.Talent agency WME purchased IMG, the sports and event management group, in 2013 with goals of growing into an omnivorous entertainment company. The organization already made moves into niche sports properties last year by buying Professional Bull Riders and forming an e-sports gaming league with Turner Broadcasting.The Fertitta brothers will retain a passive minority interest in the UFC, and the Abu Dhabi government still owns 10 percent of the company. Tom Van Arsdale Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Johnny Green Jersey . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. https://www.cheapkingsbasketball.com/312b-chris-webber-jersey-kings.html . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Dewayne Dedmon Jersey . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Sacramento Kings Shirts . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. By this point in the NBA campaign, every team has played at least 16 games and most are nearing 20 entering the weekend of Dec. 2. This means were at least 20 percent of the way into the campaign. While the sample isnt exactly large, its significant enough for us to take stock of the differences in advanced production for teams from last season to this.In an effort to survey the significant shifts from last season to this current campaign, weve investigated the most meaningful changes in pace and offensive efficiency. The table below reveals the 10 greatest leaps in offensive rating, which measures points per 100 possessions, from last season to now.As ESPN fantasy hoops analyst John Cregan deftly details, the Lakers have become a fantasy gold mine, as theyve enjoyed the biggest leap in offensive efficiency this season and rank 10th in effective field goal percentage, ninth in true shooting percentage, fourth in pace, seventh in assists, 10th in 3-pointers and fifth in steals. The Raptors are enjoying DeMar DeRozans epic and efficient scoring breakout, while the Rockets transition into Mike DAntonis fantasy-friendly scheme is proving successful. We can identify profitable fantasy draft picks on every one of these rosters.The 10 teams below have enjoyed the largest surges in pace, which measures the amount of possessions per 48 minutes. Pace is an essential ingredient for fantasy basketball, particularly when seeking differentiation in lineup decisions and in daily fantasy.Its not surprising to find several key rising assets on Brooklyn this season, as Sean Kilpatrick -- available in more than half of ESPN leagues as of Friday morning -- and Trevor Booker -- tied for third in steals per game -- have proven immensely valuable for fantasy investors. The Nets are also an inviting matchup for opponents, as theyve ceded the second-most points per 100 possessions (108.9), behind only the Blazers league-worst rate of 110.4.The Cavs uptick in pace is also compelling, as it has accommodated a 36 percent jump in scoring production from Kevin Love since last season, and a 25 percent increase in scoring for Kyrie Irving.Fantasy Forecaster: Dec. 5-11Access the downloadable forecaster chart PDF hereMatchup ratings are based on a scale from 1 (poor matchup) to 10 (excellent matchup). These are calculated using a formula that evaluates the teams year-to-date and past 10 games statistics, their opponents numbers in those categories and their performance in home/road games depending on where the game is to be played. The column to the left lists the teams total number of games scheduled, as well as home games, and lists the overall rating from 1 to 10 for that teams weekly schedule.Ratings roundupAs if thee Warriors historically efficient offense needed any help, they claim the rare five-game week and are thus positioned with the lone perfect rating of the week.ddddddddddddEven as the Clippers are the only team limited to just two games this coming week, NBA junkies cant wait for their pivotal matchup against the Warriors on Wednesday night. Both teams rank in the top five in offensive rating and the top eight in defensive rating.The Bucks enjoy a strong week as well, with matchups against up-tempo teams like the Blazers and Hawks.South Philly splitsThe 76ers glut of big men will eventually become a unique issue once Nerlens Noel returns to the lineup. It is possible Noel can pair well with Joel Embiid, while its somewhat clear the team doesnt believe Jahlil Okafor and Embiid are a reasonable pairing, as theyve played just two minutes together on the court so far.The key takeaway for this frontcourt -- besides the fact Embiids per-36-minute numbers are ridiculously awesome -- is that with Embiid on the floor, the 76ers have allowed a defensive rating of just 98.5, which would rate second-best in the league based on current allowance rates. With Okafor on the court, Philly has a defensive rating of 108.9, which would tie for the second-worst in the NBA with a full sample.When Embiid is sidelined and Okafor is the leading big, the 76ers are an ideal matchup for streaming and DFS plays. When Embiid is starting, his rare defensive prowess is notable, especially as his minutes restriction has reportedly loosened to 28 minutes per game.Defensive real plus-minusPursuing point guard matchups with the Trail Blazers and Suns could prove rewarding this season, as Damian Lillard ranks 81st out of 83 eligible point guards in ESPNs defensive real plus-minus rate, while Brandon Knight of Phoenix comes in last in the index. This advanced metric isnt perfect, but it does reveal plus matchup metrics, given that the premise estimates the on-court impact on team defensive performance, measured in points allowed per 100 defensive possessions.Small forwards have feasted against the Dallas Mavericks, as Hoop Stats indicates they claim the second-worst defensive rating facing the position and DRPM records Harrison Barnes 72nd out of 80 eligible players at the position. Given the aforementioned defensive data on Okafor, its not surprising to see him ranked in the bottom tier at the position in defensive plus-minus. The Nets also appear generous to opposing fives, as they rank 23rd in defensive rating against the position thanks to Brook Lopez rated fifth-worst in DRPM at the position. ' ' '