Endeavor and W.W.E. Said to Be Close to Deal Combining Fighting Leagues

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Endeavor, the Hollywood entertainment colossus that owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is close to a deal that would combine that league with World Wrestling Entertainment, two people familiar with the negotiations said on Sunday. The combination would establish a behemoth in combat entertainment, both real and scripted.The deal could be announced as early as this week, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential negotiations.The deal would create a new, publicly traded company, according to the people, with Endeavor’s U.F.C. league composing 51 percent of the business and W.W.E. the remaining 49 percent.The union would increase the combined company’s leverage in negotiations with distributors of its content, potentially allowing it to command a …

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