UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White are among the most influential people in the world of sports.
The UFC's top two executives share the No. 41 spot on the SportsBusiness Journal's list of the 50 most influential people in sports business.
Fertitta and White rank a spot behind Yankees executive Hal Steinbrenner and a spot ahead of MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner.
NBCUniversal Holdings president and CEO Steve Burke headed the list, which the sports-business trade publication releases annually.
"In the last decade, the Las Vegas billionaire and his bombastic front man have taken the UFC from outlawed to in thing," the publication wrote. "A move to the FOX family of networks, coupled with expansion into South America and Asia, made 2011 a watershed year."
Nine executives from other pro-sports organizations ranked higher than Ferttita and White. They included MLB's Bud Selig (No. 2), NFL's Roger Goodell (No. 4), NBA's David Stern (No. 6), NHL's Gary Bettman (No. 9), PGA's Tim Finchem (No. 14), NASCAR's Brian France (No. 17), NBA's Adam Siler (No. 26), MLB's Tim Brosnan (No. 27) and MLS' Don Garber (No. 30).
A big MMA proponent, FOX Sports Media Group chairman David Hill (who helped finalize the recent landmark deal between FOX and the UFC), ranked No. 5.
Fertitta and White have been at the helm of Zuffa, the UFC's parent company (and now Strikeforce's), since January 2001. SportsBusiness Journal first introduced its top-50 list in 2004. White and Fertitta are ranked for the first time.
The UFC's top two executives share the No. 41 spot on the SportsBusiness Journal's list of the 50 most influential people in sports business.
Fertitta and White rank a spot behind Yankees executive Hal Steinbrenner and a spot ahead of MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner.
NBCUniversal Holdings president and CEO Steve Burke headed the list, which the sports-business trade publication releases annually.
"In the last decade, the Las Vegas billionaire and his bombastic front man have taken the UFC from outlawed to in thing," the publication wrote. "A move to the FOX family of networks, coupled with expansion into South America and Asia, made 2011 a watershed year."
Nine executives from other pro-sports organizations ranked higher than Ferttita and White. They included MLB's Bud Selig (No. 2), NFL's Roger Goodell (No. 4), NBA's David Stern (No. 6), NHL's Gary Bettman (No. 9), PGA's Tim Finchem (No. 14), NASCAR's Brian France (No. 17), NBA's Adam Siler (No. 26), MLB's Tim Brosnan (No. 27) and MLS' Don Garber (No. 30).
A big MMA proponent, FOX Sports Media Group chairman David Hill (who helped finalize the recent landmark deal between FOX and the UFC), ranked No. 5.
Fertitta and White have been at the helm of Zuffa, the UFC's parent company (and now Strikeforce's), since January 2001. SportsBusiness Journal first introduced its top-50 list in 2004. White and Fertitta are ranked for the first time.
