The influence of combat sports is stretching further into mainstream American sports, with key figures behind the UFC now securing a foothold in the NFL.
TKO Group Holdings executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have officially been approved as minority investors in the Las Vegas Raiders, marking a notable crossover between the UFC’s parent company and one of the NFL’s most valuable franchises.
Emanuel, who serves as CEO of TKO, has acquired a 1.4% stake in the team, while Shapiro, the company’s president and COO, has taken a 0.6% share. Their entry comes as part of a broader ownership reshuffle that has significantly boosted the Raiders’ valuation to around $9.9 billion.
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Despite the influx of new investors, controlling owner Mark Davis retains authority over the franchise, holding roughly a third of the team, which is the minimum required by league rules for a primary owner.
One of the biggest shifts within the ownership structure involves Silver Lake executive Egon Durban, who has increased his stake to 22%, making him a central figure in the team’s long-term future. Durban is already deeply connected to TKO and Endeavor, serving as a major investor and board member, and is widely viewed as the leading candidate to take control of the Raiders should Davis ever decide to sell.
The move also reflects a broader strategy tying TKO closer to Las Vegas. The city has long served as the home base for the UFC, while recent large-scale events, including WWE’s WrestleMania and major boxing cards, have further strengthened the company’s footprint in the market.
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