IBM and UFC Partner to Revolutionize MMA Viewing with AI-Powered Insights Engine

UFC Names IBM as First-Ever Official AI Partner - IBM (NYSE:IBM), TKO Group Holdings (NYSE:TKO)

IBM and UFC to develop UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx to offer enhanced fight analysis across viewing platforms ARMONK, N.Y. and LAS VEGAS, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM IBM and UFC®️, the world's premier mixed martial arts organization and part of TKO Group Holdings TKO, today announced an innovative new partnership that will combine the power of IBM's AI and data platform, watsonx, with the vast global reach of UFC's content platforms to enhance the viewing experience for millions of UFC fans around the world. With the new agreement, IBM will become UFC's Official Global AI Partner, marking the first time UFC has opened up this marketing category to a brand partner. The core of the partnership will feature UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx. Insights Engine will harness IBM's expertise in data and AI technologies - including its family of Granite large language models - and UFC's rich data feeds to provide the UFC global viewing audience with more timely, in-depth information. This includes unique insights and advanced analysis of live bouts, fighter tendencies, projections of possible match outcomes, and method of victory - all of which will be engineered to update in real-time on-screen as more live data is generated. "This partnership with IBM is one of the most significant milestones for UFC and a game changer for how fans will experience our sport," said Grant Norris-Jones, Head of Global Partnerships at TKO. "IBM is an iconic blue-chip, global brand with decades of experience in sports marketing. Together, we're pioneering a product to revolutionize analytics and information in live sports. This partnership marks a pivotal win, not only for UFC and IBM, but also for fans around the world who will experience our sport in a whole new way." As its first official Global AI Partner, IBM will work with UFC to accelerate and scale existing capabilities, driving fan engagement with unique content experiences and unprecedented access to UFC fight information. Insights Engine, produced in collaboration by IBM and UFC's Research and Development team, is expected to debut in early 2025. The branded insights, stats and graphics - integrated into key touch points across UFC consumer platforms, including pre-event programming, UFC Pay-Per-View broadcasts, UFC social media channels, in-venue video boards, and more - are expected to reach hundreds of millions of UFC fans in 170 countries that receive UFC's broadcasts and follow UFC's social media channels. "Data and AI solutions like UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx can offer current fans entirely new ways to connect with their favorite athletes and sports, while also building excitement among new generations of MMA fans," said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. "Leveraging watsonx and our Granite models also allows UFC to enhance its digital operations and to harness the power of its extensive library of match data - all to the benefit of current and future fans." "IBM watsonx is synonymous with AI, and they have been leading the charge in this space from the beginning," said Alon Cohen, Senior Vice President, UFC Research and Development. "UFC has been working on the concept of the Insights Engine for several years, and now we finally have the right partner in IBM with the depth of expertise in AI to bring it to life. We're looking forward to rolling this out to our fans in the months ahead." About UFC® UFC® is the world's premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 290 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while broadcasting to over 975 million households across more than 170 countries. UFC's athlete roster features the world's best MMA athletes representing more than 80 countries. The organization's digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world's leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings TKO and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC. About IBM IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information. Media Contacts: Chris Bellitti UFC Corporate Communications [email protected] Sarah Benchaita IBM Corporate Communications [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ufc-names-ibm-as-first-ever-official-ai-partner-302305144.html SOURCE IBM Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

IBM partners with UFC to enhance fight analytics By Investing.com

ARMONK, N.Y. - IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) have entered into a partnership to develop the UFC Insights Engine using IBM's artificial intelligence platform watsonx, aiming to transform the way fans engage with mixed martial arts viewing. The collaboration marks the first occasion UFC has designated an Official Global AI Partner, a role now filled by the tech giant. The UFC Insights Engine is designed to leverage IBM's data and AI technologies, including its Granite large language models, and UFC's extensive data collection to provide viewers with advanced analysis and insights during live events. This includes real-time updates on fighter trends, match outcome projections, and methods of victory, all engineered to enhance the in-arena and broadcast experience. Grant Norris-Jones, Head of Global Partnerships at TKO, UFC's parent company, emphasized the significance of the partnership with IBM, stating it as a "game changer" for fan experience and a "pivotal win" for both organizations and their global audience. IBM's involvement will not only enhance UFC's current capabilities but also aims to scale them, offering fans unique content experiences and access to fight information. The Insights Engine is anticipated to debut in early 2025 and will be integrated across UFC's consumer platforms, including social media, Pay-Per-View broadcasts, and in-venue displays. Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM, highlighted the potential of data and AI solutions like the UFC Insights Engine to connect fans with their favorite sports and athletes in new ways, as well as to attract new fan bases. Alon Cohen, Senior Vice President of UFC Research and Development, acknowledged IBM's pioneering role in AI and expressed enthusiasm for the partnership's ability to bring the long-conceived Insights Engine to fruition. The UFC, known for its extensive reach with over 700 million fans and broadcasts in 170 countries, continues to innovate in sports entertainment. IBM, with its expertise in AI and hybrid cloud technologies, supports clients across various industries in achieving digital transformation. In other recent news, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL). and International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) have been the subjects of recent analyst reviews and earnings reports. Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated an Outperform rating for Apple, maintaining a $240 target price, noting that despite potential tariff impacts, Apple's high product gross margins could mitigate a significant profit hit. IBM, in its Q3 2024 financial report, disclosed a total revenue of $15 billion, with software revenue growing by 10% and Red Hat's performance increasing by 14%. The company also announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.67 per common share, continuing its tradition of returning value to shareholders. BMO Capital Markets upgraded their price target for IBM to $260 while maintaining a Market Perform rating, emphasizing the ongoing solid growth in software, which is expected to continue into fiscal year 2025 (FY25). These recent developments provide insights into the performances and expectations of Apple and IBM, two major players in the tech industry. IBM's partnership with UFC to develop the UFC Insights Engine using AI technology aligns well with the company's position as a prominent player in the IT Services industry, as highlighted by InvestingPro Tips. This collaboration could potentially contribute to IBM's revenue growth, which stood at 2.3% over the last twelve months according to InvestingPro Data. The company's strong financial position is evident from its market capitalization of $195.03 billion and a robust EBITDA of $14.68 billion for the same period. These figures suggest that IBM has the resources to invest in innovative projects like the UFC partnership. InvestingPro Tips also reveal that IBM has raised its dividend for 29 consecutive years, indicating a commitment to shareholder returns. This could be attractive to investors looking for stable income alongside potential growth from AI initiatives. The current dividend yield stands at 3.17%, which may appeal to income-focused investors. It's worth noting that IBM's stock has shown a strong performance recently, with a 28.13% price total return over the past six months. This upward trend might reflect market optimism about IBM's strategic moves in the AI space, including partnerships like the one with UFC. For readers interested in a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights on IBM's financial health and market position. In fact, there are 8 more InvestingPro Tips available for IBM, providing a deeper understanding of the company's prospects and challenges.