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 (NYSE: IBM) and
UFC®️, the world's premier mixed martial arts
organization and part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: 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 (NYSE: 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
cbellitti@ufc.com
Sarah Benchaita
IBM Corporate Communications
sarah.benchaita@ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM
