UFC Names IBM as First-Ever Official AI Partner
IBM and UFC have announced a groundbreaking partnership making IBM the UFC's first-ever Official Global AI Partner. The collaboration will introduce the UFC Insights Engine, powered by IBM's watsonx AI platform, set to launch in early 2025. The system will provide real-time analysis, fight insights, and outcome predictions across UFC's viewing platforms, reaching fans in 170 countries. The engine will leverage IBM's Granite large language models and UFC's data feeds to deliver advanced analytics, fighter tendencies, and match projections, integrating these insights into UFC's broadcasts, social media, and venue displays.
IBM e UFC hanno annunciato una partnership innovativa che rende IBM il primo Official Global AI Partner della UFC. Questa collaborazione introdurrà il UFC Insights Engine, alimentato dalla piattaforma AI watsonx di IBM, previsto per il lancio all'inizio del 2025. Il sistema fornirà analisi in tempo reale, approfondimenti sugli incontri e previsioni sui risultati attraverso le piattaforme di visualizzazione della UFC, raggiungendo fan in 170 paesi. Il motore sfrutterà i modelli di linguaggio di grandi dimensioni Granite di IBM e i feed di dati della UFC per offrire analisi avanzate, tendenze dei combattenti e proiezioni degli incontri, integrando queste informazioni nelle trasmissioni della UFC, sui social media e nelle esposizioni negli eventi.
IBM y UFC han anunciado una asociación innovadora que convierte a IBM en el primer socio oficial global de IA de UFC. Esta colaboración presentará el UFC Insights Engine, impulsado por la plataforma de IA watsonx de IBM, que se lanzará a principios de 2025. El sistema proporcionará análisis en tiempo real, conocimientos sobre peleas y predicciones de resultados a través de las plataformas de visualización de UFC, llegando a fanáticos en 170 países. El motor utilizará los modelos de lenguaje de gran tamaño Granite de IBM y los feeds de datos de UFC para ofrecer análisis avanzados, tendencias de peleadores y proyecciones de combates, integrando estas percepciones en las transmisiones de UFC, en las redes sociales y en las exhibiciones de eventos.
IBM과 UFC가 혁신적인 파트너십을 발표하며 IBM이 UFC의 첫 번째 공식 글로벌 AI 파트너가 되었습니다. 이 협력은 IBM의 watsonx AI 플랫폼으로 지원되는 UFC Insights Engine을 도입하며, 2025년 초에 출시될 예정입니다. 이 시스템은 UFC의 시청 플랫폼을 통해 170개국의 팬들에게 실시간 분석, 싸움 인사이트 및 결과 예측을 제공할 것입니다. 이 엔진은 IBM의 Granite 대형 언어 모델과 UFC의 데이터 피드를 활용하여 고급 분석, 파이터 경향 및 경기 예측을 제공하며, 이러한 인사이트를 UFC 방송, 소셜 미디어 및 이벤트 디스플레이에 통합합니다.
IBM et UFC ont annoncé un partenariat révolutionnaire faisant d'IBM le premier partenaire mondial officiel en IA de l'UFC. Cette collaboration introduira le UFC Insights Engine, alimenté par la plateforme IA watsonx d'IBM, dont le lancement est prévu pour début 2025. Le système fournira une analyse en temps réel, des aperçus de combats et des prévisions de résultats sur les plateformes de diffusion de l'UFC, atteignant des fans dans 170 pays. Le moteur utilisera les modèles de langage à grande échelle Granite d'IBM et les flux de données de l'UFC pour offrir des analyses avancées, des tendances de combattants et des projections de matchs, intégrant ces informations dans les diffusions de l'UFC, sur les réseaux sociaux et dans les affichages des événements.
IBM und UFC haben eine bahnbrechende Partnerschaft angekündigt, die IBM zum ersten offiziellen globalen KI-Partner der UFC macht. Diese Zusammenarbeit wird die UFC Insights Engine einführen, die von IBMs watsonx-KI-Plattform betrieben wird und voraussichtlich Anfang 2025 auf den Markt kommt. Das System wird in Echtzeit Analysen, Einblicke in Kämpfe und Ergebnisprognosen über die Viewing-Plattformen der UFC bereitstellen und Fans in 170 Ländern erreichen. Die Engine wird auf IBMs Granite große Sprachmodelle und UFC-Datenfeeds zugreifen, um erweiterte Analysen, Kämpfertrends und Kampfprognosen zu liefern, die in die UFC-Übertragungen, sozialen Medien und Veranstaltungsanzeigen integriert werden.
- Strategic partnership with IBM expands UFC's technological capabilities
- Access to IBM's advanced AI technology (watsonx) enhances product offerings
- Potential revenue growth through new marketing category opening
- Global reach expansion across 170 countries
- Enhanced fan engagement through real-time analytics
- None.
Insights
The IBM-UFC partnership represents a significant advancement in sports analytics and AI application. The development of UFC Insights Engine using watsonx and Granite LLMs will create a new revenue stream and technological moat for IBM. This partnership demonstrates IBM's strategic pivot towards practical AI applications in high-visibility markets.
The integration with UFC's global platform, reaching 170 countries, provides IBM an excellent showcase for watsonx capabilities. This real-time sports analytics implementation could serve as a blueprint for similar partnerships across other sports, potentially opening up a new market segment for IBM's AI solutions.
The early 2025 deployment timeline suggests immediate revenue impact, with potential for scaling across TKO's broader sports entertainment portfolio. This marks a strategic expansion of IBM's sports technology portfolio beyond traditional partnerships like tennis and golf.
This partnership strategically positions IBM in the rapidly growing sports analytics market, particularly valuable given UFC's strong presence among younger demographics. The deal offers multiple revenue touchpoints across UFC's broadcast, social media and in-venue platforms, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers.
The timing aligns with increasing market demand for AI-driven sports engagement, potentially setting new industry standards for real-time sports analytics. This could strengthen IBM's competitive position against other tech giants in the sports technology sector and demonstrate practical applications of its watsonx platform to enterprise clients.
IBM and UFC to develop UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx to offer enhanced fight analysis across viewing platforms
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
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
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