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Ilja Dragunov exits WWE after contract expires - report. August 20, 2026 Ilja Dragunov is reportedly leaving WWE. Ilja Dragunov hasn't competed on WWE television since taking part in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown before WrestleMania 42. While earlier reports noted that he'd return sooner rather than later, Mike Johnson of PWInsider has confirmed that the Mad Dragon is officially leaving the promotion. The report noted that Dragunov's contract with the company has expired. The promotion has also moved his bio to the alumni section on its official website. Following his main roster debut in 2024, Ilja Dragunov was sidelined for a year due to a torn ACL. He returned in October 2025, won the United States Championship from Sami Zayn in his comeback match, and held it for 63 days. Fans expected WWE to give better opportunities to the Mad Dragon after the title reign. However, they felt the promotion buried him after seeing how Brock Lesnar eliminated him from the 2026 men's Royal Rumble match. Wrestling Observer's Bryan Alvarez noted back in June that Ilja Dragunov was training for a return at Natalya and Tyson Kidd's Dungeon 2.0 with his wife, former WWE NXT star Jin Tala. However, with the new report confirming his exit from the promotion, it will be interesting to see where the former United States Champion ends up next. Kebin Antony is a wrestling news writer for WrestleZone. Having covered the pro wrestling industry since December 2017 for various outlets, he brings years of digital media experience to his reporting, with an emphasis on breaking news, story analysis, live event reporting, and the latest developments across WWE, AEW, and other top promotions.

Controversial former wrestler says his WWE past cost him a major job. August 17, 2026 Marc Copani, best known to WWE fans as the controversial Muhammad Hassan, says a brief return to wrestling unexpectedly affected his life outside the ring. Speaking recently about his post-WWE career, Copani revealed that renewed attention surrounding his wrestling past cost him a major opportunity in education - just when it seemed he had the job all but pinned down. Appearing on Developmentally Speaking with Bryan Asbury, Copani reflected on balancing occasional wrestling appearances with the education career he built after leaving WWE. According to him, one appearance reignited online interest in his WWE character, creating problems during a hiring process that had already reached its final stages. Marc Copani explains how his Muhammad Hassan past resurfaced. Marc Copani said he had successfully completed three rounds of interviews before his application reached a board of education for final approval. "I had gotten this job. I had won the interview rounds, all three rounds, and went to the board of education." However, he claimed everything changed once board members discovered his wrestling background. "Because of that, I actually lost out on a pretty big job." Copani explained that decision-makers stopped seeing him as an experienced educator and instead focused on his former WWE identity. "That had become so well known, and then suddenly Marc Copani the educator was suddenly Muhammad Hassan the wrestler." According to Copani, the board rejected his candidacy outright. "They were like, 'This guy's a professional wrestler? No, absolutely not.'" He added that he never had the chance to address any concerns, saying, "They wouldn't even meet with me." Copani believes assumptions about professional wrestling unfairly overshadowed his qualifications, noting that people questioned whether he could be "a talented and intellectually educated teacher or principal." The setback prompted him to step away from wrestling opportunities for a period. "So I stopped doing everything for a while." Fortunately, Copani said his current school district fully supports his occasional wrestling appearances. Now serving as a director of human resources, he also acknowledged the irony of his journey. "I'm the director of human resources. The irony that I was the most controversial character that got kicked off WWE TV... isn't lost on me." While his WWE run generated enough heat to become part of wrestling history, Copani says his focus today remains firmly on education - proving that sometimes the toughest battles happen long after the final bell.

How much is the UFC worth? UFC net worth 2026! Aug 17, 2026 The largest MMA promotion in the world is without a doubt the UFC. Although the UFC may not have the largest roster, the Dana White-led organization dominates its competitors in terms of popularity, earnings, and other financial indicators. It wasn't always like this, though. The UFC was a sinking ship that was headed for bankruptcy at one point. The terrible condition of affairs was reversed by Dana White and the Fertitta brothers. How much is UFC worth? How much is the UFC net worth? Here is everything you need to know about UFC net worth and the real value of UFC. Watch & Bet on Sports => One of the biggest subsidiaries of Endeavor Group Holdings, which is the parent company of the Asylum Entertainment Group, TKO Group Holdings, and Professional Bull Riders, is the organization, which is short for Ultimate Fighting Championship. By 2026, the UFC had risen to all-time highs in market capital and hosted over 700 events across the globe. With a current UFC net worth of over $12 billion, the UFC net worth is expected to continue to increase in value over the coming years, according to BetMGM. Established in September 2023 as part of a $21.4 billion sports property established by the merger of the UFC and WWE, the promotion is owned by TKO Group Holdings. The parent firm for both companies is still Endeavor Group Holdings. As of 2023, it is the biggest mixed martial arts promotion worldwide. It uses the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts and organizes competitions across the globe that feature 11 weight classes (three women's and eight men's). By 2026, it will have hosted more than 700 events. Its president since 2001 and CEO since 2023 is Dana White. Under White's leadership, it has expanded into a multibillion-dollar international business. UFC net worth 2026 - what's the value of the UFC? Although TKO Group Holdings as a whole made a profit in 2024 despite the UFC's unusual decline in revenue for the third quarter, the company still has a fantastic year ahead of it in 2025. According to new financial records made public on Wednesday, the UFC's revenue decreased by 11%, from $42.6 million to $354.9 million, mainly as a result of two fewer Fight Night events and one fewer pay-per-view event than during the same period in 2023. A $10.2 million boost in sponsorship revenue helped to somewhat offset the $50.4 million decrease in media rights revenue. In terms of live event revenue, the UFC remained virtually inactive despite hosting three fewer events in the third quarter of 2024 than in 2023. This was because overall ticket sales increased year over year. How much is UFC revenue? Even though TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC and WWE, reported a loss in revenue for the quarter, overall revenue climbed by 52 percent, from $232.1 million to $681.2 million. WWE, which brought in $242.7 million, was responsible for that surge. TKO CEO Ari Emanuel stated in a press statement alongside the financial figures, "TKO's strong third quarter results reflect continued strength across UFC and WWE, particularly in live events and brand partnerships." Given this ongoing performance, Sillyseason now anticipate achieving revenue and adjusted EBITDA at the upper end of its full-year 2024 guiding outlook. The most recent financial declaration also mentioned the settlement of one of the two UFC antitrust cases and the courts' granting of preliminary permission. A $125 million payment was already placed into escrow in October, and the remaining $250 million is anticipated to be paid in 2025 as part of the agreement that TKO will pay out $375 million to settle the first of the claims. There is still a second antitrust case against the UFC. | Revenue | US$1.3 billion (2023) | | Operating income | US$142.9 million (2023) | | Net income | US$387 million (2022) | | Total assets | US$1.1 billion (2022) | | Total equity | US$7 billion (2022) | | Number of employees | ~400 (2016) | | Parent | TKO Group Holdings | | Divisions | UFC Apex UFC Fight Pass UFC Performance Institute | FAQs on UFC net worth. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about UFC net worth. What is the UFC's current net worth? As of 2026, the UFC's valuation is estimated to be over $12 billion. This reflects its growth as the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Is UFC or WWE worth more? As of 2026, UFC is generally considered to be worth more than WWE, though both are part of the same parent company, TKO Group Holdings, following their merger in September 2023. Who is the owner of UFC? The owner of the UFC is TKO Group Holdings, Inc., a company created following the merger of the UFC and WWE in September 2023. How much is the CEO of the UFC worth? The CEO of the UFC is Dana White, who has been a key figure in the organization's growth and success. As of 2026, Dana White's net worth is estimated to be approximately $500 million. Watch & Bet on Sports => Table of Contents