Ari Emanuel's UFC is combat capitalism with Chinese characteristics

Collectivism under the guise of a government contractor married to the State and a politburo full of rich friends controlling media access.

There is absolutely nothing simpatico between UFC fighters espousing beliefs in Austrian economics and UFC fighters pleading with the public for help in order to stop their journey into homelessness.

And there is certainly little in common between Ayn Rand and Ari Emanuel’s current multi-billion dollar economic model for UFC & WWE.

Developments over the last 30 days have provided a bitterly amusing version of confirmation bias supporting the reasoning behind our various MMA Draw articles highlighting TKO’s marriage with world governments.

The more political facts you put in the face of a UFC or WWE fan, the less receptive they are to your message. Those who are receptive continue to either struggle with internal conflict or denial about what Ari Emanuel’s TKO really is:

• A multi-billion dollar version of a combat sports Super PAC.

• A government contractor.

• A taxpayer vampire.

• A free cash flow monster that powers the Endeavor political machine to give Ari Emanuel the juice he craves in order to flex his political muscle using your money for his benefit.

Ari Emanuel is many things but what he is not is a true capitalist. He is the ultimate political broker with - and for - global governments.

The very same people who go on Twitter and bash Yuval Harari for the World Economic Forum in Davos will turn right around and lecture you on how your criticism of the way UFC does business means you are some sort of Commie.

When, in reality, Ari Emanuel’s business machinations with TKO is starting to very much resemble the activities of a certain world leader. At least he doesn’t chop off body parts, but those who do can become a business partner under the right terms and conditions.

The rise of TKO as a sports monster is highly fascinating because so many of the elements utilized to build the machine have nothing to do with the actual product you watch.

It has everything to do with political, business, and cultural connections involving the world’s richest dictators, politicians, and venture capitalists who have created a closed loop for access.

That allure and desire for access into the club is what is propelling record revenue for a monopoly that has no end in sight.

Understanding who Ari Emanuel is and what he really represents

When news reports hit the wires about Silver Lake’s bid to take Endeavor private, the Hollywood trades were snickering from the peanut gallery that Ari Emanuel’s big dreams of turning Endeavor into a massive global empire had gone up in smoke.

That snickering not only is inaccurate, it grossly misses this current political and business zeitgeist.

At a time when antitrust is cool in law school and certain Democratic Party circles, Ari Emanuel managed to build his own large sports monopoly in TKO. He did so without having to pay massive taxes, either.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats will say a critical word about Mr. Emanuel.

Ari Emanuel is one of the most powerful, if not most powerful non-elected political bosses in the United States. He is the equivalent of a private White House Chief-of-Staff. When he schedules a meeting or calls someone, his calls are always returned.

If you don’t believe me, look at his personal calendar. He was busy last week having a Zoom meeting with Spencer Cox, the Governor of Utah.

Utah, a state that has bent over backwards with investment into TKO business ventures and changed state policy regarding disclosure of fighter pay, can’t even get an in-person meeting? Talk about a flex for our Dear Leader.

Most rich people have to pay a lot of money in the form of a political fundraiser to get their picture taken with a Governor or a Senator. Ari just picks up the phone. He’s on a different level than you.

How did we get to this point? We got to this point because of what Endeavor has become.