Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams invest in UFC

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams

New York: US-based mixed martial arts juggernaut Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) said on Friday that over 20 top celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment have piled in as investors. Among the league’s new investors are tennis star sisters Serena and Venus Williams, as well as Maria Sharapova, actors Sylvester Stallone and Ben Affleck, UFC said in a statement. UFC produces over 40 live events a year, broadcast to 156 countries. Though UFC did not give details about the amount of investment, US media said it was $4 billion. It is learnt that the UFC earned $600 million in revenues in 2015.