Bob Meyrowitz

{{short description|Co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship}}

Robert "Bob" Meyrowitz is the co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/11/12/5096720/bob-meyrowitz-recalls-the-remarkable-genesis-of-the-first-ultimate|title=Bob Meyrowitz recalls the remarkable genesis of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event|work=MMA Fighting|accessdate=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/24/business/the-media-business-television-pay-per-view-scales-back-ambitions-for-event-shows.html|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: Television; Pay-Per-View Scales Back Ambitions for 'Event' Shows|date=24 May 1993|publisher=Nytimes.com|accessdate=29 November 2014}}

Background

In 1973, Meyrowitz was a founder of D.I.R. Broadcasting and a creator of the syndicated radio series, the King Biscuit Flower Hour.

In the late 1980s he started Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG), which was one of the first groups to develop content for pay per view.{{cite web |title=Bob Meyrowitz Interview from 2006 on MMA History |url=https://archive.org/details/NoHoldsBarredBobMeyrowitzInterviewFrom2006OnMmaHistory |website=No Holds Barred |publisher=archive.org |access-date=22 May 2022}}

In 1999, Meyrowitz created eYada.com, an internet talk radio station, ceasing in 2001.{{cite news |title=No More Yada for eYada |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/no-more-yada-eyada-50334/ |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Adweek |date=July 10, 2001}}{{cite news |last1=Levere |first1=Jane L. |title=Compressed Data; On-Line Radio Tries The All-Talk Format |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/13/business/compressed-data-on-line-radio-tries-the-all-talk-format.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=13 September 1999}}{{cite news |last1=MilesWSJ.com |first1=Stephanie |title=EYada.com Lays Off One-Third Of Staff as It Axes Several Shows |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB97958050336800021 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=15 January 2001}}

In 2001, Meyrowitz was the owner of the UFC who sold it to Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta (Zuffa).{{cite news |last1=Segal |first1=David |title=Fighting a Cage Match to Turn UFC Into a National Phenomenon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/business/fighting-a-cage-match-to-turn-the-ufc-into-a-national-phenomenon.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=26 March 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-01/fertittas-made-billionaires-by-head-blows-with-chokeholds|title=Fertittas Made Billionaires by Head Blows With Chokeholds|author=Matthew G. Miller |date=1 August 2012|work=Bloomberg|accessdate=29 November 2014}}

In January 2008, Meyrowitz announced the formation of his new MMA company, YAMMA Pit Fighting.{{cite web|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mma/blog/2008/01/former_ufc_owner_starts_new_mm.html|title=MMA Stomping Grounds: Former UFC owner starts new MMA promotion - Mixed martial arts: UFC news, analysis, opinions|publisher=Weblogs.baltimoresun.com|accessdate=29 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080129005652&newsLang=en|title=Yamma Pit Fighting Emerges as New Force on the MMA Scene|publisher=Businesswire.com|accessdate=29 November 2014}} YAMMA was a joint venture between Meyrowitz's company, Rope Partners, and Live Nation. Yamma folded the same year, holding only one event on April 11, 2008.

On June 10, 2016, Meyrowitz was inducted to the Contributor wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/news/bob-meyrowitz-named-2016-ufc-hall-class|title=Bob Meyrowitz Named to 2016 UFC Hall Class|publisher=Forbes.com|author=Thomas Gerbasi|date=2016-06-01|access-date=2024-01-21}}

References

Category:Living people

Category:Mixed martial arts executives

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Founders of sporting institutions