IBM and UFC launch AI-powered in-fight insights platform

NEW YORK/LAS VEGAS - IBM (NYSE:IBM) and UFC announced Friday the launch of In-Fight Insights, an AI-driven platform that delivers real-time alerts about notable milestones, streaks and records during UFC events. This innovation comes as IBM, a prominent player in the IT Services industry, continues to leverage its AI capabilities while enjoying strong market performance with its stock trading near its 52-week high of $324.90.

The new system, built with IBM watsonx technology, will debut at UFC 322: DELLA MADDALENA vs. MAKHACHEV at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 15.

The platform analyzes more than 13.2 million UFC data points from over 20 years of fights and 2,400 athletes to identify significant moments as they occur, such as record-setting strike totals and notable streaks.

This marks the first live in-fight integration since IBM became UFC's Official AI Partner a year ago, expanding beyond the pre- and post-fight applications previously implemented.

"UFC Insights Engine built with IBM watsonx is a complex AI package that goes deep to unearth new, real-time insights for fans in seconds," said Alon Cohen, Executive Vice President of Innovation for TKO, in a press release statement.

The technology will provide broadcasters with immediate contextual information to share with viewers, while also storing data for archival and analytical purposes.

According to the companies, the In-Fight Insights addition is part of a broader initiative to scale the UFC Insights Engine across all UFC platforms, including broadcasts, pre-event programming, social media channels, and in-venue activations.

The partnership aims to leverage AI and data analytics to enhance the viewing experience for both dedicated and casual fans as the popularity of mixed martial arts continues to grow globally. IBM's focus on innovation has contributed to its financial stability, with the company maintaining dividend payments for 55 consecutive years and raising its dividend for 30 consecutive years, according to InvestingPro. For investors interested in IBM's complete financial picture, InvestingPro offers a comprehensive Pro Research Report with intuitive visuals and expert analysis on this and over 1,400 other top stocks.

In other recent news, IBM reported its third-quarter earnings for 2025, exceeding Wall Street expectations with an earnings per share of $2.65, compared to the forecasted $2.44. The company also reported revenue figures of $16.33 billion, surpassing the anticipated $16.09 billion. Additionally, IBM has been selected for Stage B of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. This program aims to explore the feasibility of developing a fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2033. Furthermore, UT Southwestern Medical Center has implemented the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design using IBM Fusion, marking a significant step in enhancing its research capabilities. IBM's Apptio has also launched new financial operations solutions, Cloudability Governance and Kubecost 3.0, to help enterprises manage cloud costs in AI-driven environments. These developments reflect IBM's ongoing efforts to innovate across various sectors.

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