By now, you've probably heard that Zuffa, LLC, sold Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to WME-IMG for $4.2 billion dollars. The deal was originally reported by FloSports in June, and UFC brass initially denied the report. But this morning, the sale was officially announced with a press release. 

The MMA world, and especially the UFC's own fighters, were caught off-guard by the news. The promotion sent out an email this morning confirming the sale, which UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon posted on Twitter. 
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/JoeLauzon/status/752485836822839296" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]

Some took to Twitter to thank Zuffa, including Conor McGregor:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/752400278117183489" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/ScogginsFlow/status/752504456969908224" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[instagram url="https://twitter.com/ChrisCamozzi/status/752504010980995072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_caption="0"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/roynelsonmma/status/752536298364166144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/titoortiz/status/752360614723399680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]

Other fighters aren't quite ready to accept this deal without finding out more details:
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/LiLHeathenMMA/status/752376203881746436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/HollywoodCase/status/752534545052819456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/NeilSeeryMMA/status/752447992104361984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/HollywoodCase/status/752534545052819456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]

With rumors circulating around the formation of a Fighter's Association, the time is right for UFC's fighters to get together to make sure they are treated properly by their new management. After all, the promotion's value was partly based on the sacrifices its athletes have made inside the Octagon.

It's encouraging to see some are already considering what it means to be a professional athlete in a growing sport.