Triller: The Quietly Dominant Force in Combat Sports

Jon Stojan
·4 min read

Triller is a social media platform that burst onto the scene in 2019. Initially, it made headlines as a music video app that allowed users to create and share lip-sync videos. But, in recent years, Triller has evolved into a full-fledged social media platform with a focus on live events. It has become a dominant force in the world of combat sports, thanks to its acquisitions of BKFC, Fite.TV, Julius, Amplify, and other companies.

BKFC is a bare-knuckle fighting league that has been growing rapidly in popularity. It was acquired by Triller in 2020, and since then, the league has been on a steady rise. BKFC has been making headlines as the first promotion allowed to hold legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare-knuckle events in the United States since 1889. The league is based in Philadelphia and led by president and former professional boxer David Feldman. BKFC’s mission statement is to preserve the historical legacy of bare-knuckle fighting while emphasizing fighter safety.

Triller’s acquisition of BKFC seemed puzzling at first, but it is becoming clearer as time goes on. BKFC has quickly become the fastest-growing combat sport globally, eclipsing even the early-stage growth of the UFC. The league is attracting some of the biggest names in UFC, MMA, and boxing. BKFC is by far the fastest-growing combat sport globally, selling out venues even faster than the UFC did in its early days. Companies like PFL, which announced they had raised 500 million dollars, don’t get close to the BKFC numbers.

BKFC’s integration into Triller’s ecosystem has made it a self-sustaining microcosm. The involvement of top social media influencers promoting events allows BKFC to easily generate hundreds of thousands of viewers per fight, and Triller’s ad platform allows for unprecedented monetization of these events. One significant advantage of BKFC’s integration into Triller’s ecosystem is the ability to connect directly with fans. The app and distribution platform enable BKFC to reach its audience like no other combat sport, fostering more engagement and interaction between fighters and fans, leading to a passionate and loyal following.

Fite.TV is the largest combat sports app hosting over 2,000 events per year in more than 7 million households. Triller purchased Fite.TV in 2021, and the acquisition almost went unnoticed. However, Fite.TV’s integration into Triller’s ecosystem has made it an essential part of the Triller brand. Fite.TV’s app is on every smart TV, and it is already active in 7 million households. It has built-in marketing tools that allow it to grow and drive traffic.

Fite.TV’s recent announcement of over a million hours of content streamed in the last year is a testament to its growth. Triller’s acquisition of Fite.TV and BKFC, combined with its AI-driven technology and marketing tools, has created a self-sustaining microcosm that is rapidly eclipsing the UFC in terms of audience interest.

Julius is a leading creator-brand agency that Triller acquired in 2021. It connects 2.5 million influencers to 25,000 brands and powers over 500 million interactions across 50 million people with AI at its core. Julius is the key to Triller’s influencer marketing strategy. Triller’s ecosystem, including BKFC, Fite.TV, and Julius, is quietly becoming a dominant force in the world of combat sports.

Amplify.ai is a conversational AI platform that Triller acquired in 2021. It connects brands with customers through AI-powered messaging. Amplify’s integration into Triller’s ecosystem allows for personalized messaging between Triller and its users. Amplify.ai’s AI-powered technology allows Triller to provide customized messaging to its users, which helps to build customer loyalty.

Triller’s ecosystem, including BKFC, Fite.TV, Julius, and Amplify, combined with Triller’s 450 million registered users, form what can only be seen as its own microcosm, needing nothing from the outside world. The fastest-growing league in combat sports, an app on every smart TV, and already active in 7 million households, built-in marketing tools that allow it to grow and drive traffic, and an AI-powered platform that allows for personalized messaging between Triller and its users. It is a self-sustaining ecosystem that is rapidly becoming one of the most valuable live events combat sports companies.

The acquisition of the WWE by the UFC’s parent company Endeavor last week for an eye popping 9 Billion, is yet another mark of the value of Triller’s growing combat brand presence. Now that the UFC and WWE are under one roof it is undoubtable that Triller’s is the second most valuable combat sports brand and growing in dominance.

Considering the UFC’s $7 billion valuation and DAZN’s reported $8 billion value, along with the WWE’s $9 billion valuation Triller’s combat sports macrocosmic ecosystem, including BKFC and Fite.TV, seems to point to Triller covertly and strategically having built a ten billion dollar plus Combat Sports Juggernaut.

McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.