Ares and Hexagone MMA come under same ownership

Slam, an investment fund managed by European firm Trail, acquired a controlling stake in Ares Fighting Championship and Hexagone MMA. The two promotions will continue operating as separate entities rather than merging. Trail’s CEO Xavier Marin said the goal is to build from being the top MMA player in France to becoming the leading MMA organization in Europe within three years. Marin compared MMA’s structure to boxing’s fragmentation, citing the UFC as the dominant U.S. player and Ares as the dominant French player, with an opportunity for a major European player. He also said MMA should eventually have an independent French federation separate from the French Boxing Federation. Ares is scheduled to hold Ares 41 in Paris on June 6.

"Slam is now controlling the two major MMA promotions in France, Ares and HXMMA. Described as a fund dedicated to investment opportunities "at the intersection of sport, luxury, art, and music," Slam is managed by European investment firm Trail. For the moment, Ares and HXMMA will not merge, as the two promotions will continue operating as separate entities."

""Today, we are clearly the number one in France. The next step will be Europe," (translation by the author) Trail founder and CEO Xavier Marin told L'Equipe, setting a three-year timeline to become Europe's leading MMA organization. While it has held events outside Paris, Ares has historically been tied to the French capital."

"Marin drew a deliberate parallel with boxing's fragmentation to explain the acquisition. "In MMA, there is one major player in the United States: the UFC. There is one major player in France. And there is the opportunity and need for a major player in Europe." He also stated that MMA should eventually have its own independent federation in France, separate from the French Boxing Federation under which it currently operates."

"Ares' upcoming event will go down at the Adidas Arena in Paris on June 6, featuring an interim welterweight title clash between Alvi Dasuyev and Mohamed Soumah at Ares 41. HXMMA will return to the Arke"

Read at Sherdog