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Published 08:12 19 Oct 2016 BST
Updated 08:12 19 Oct 2016 BST
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"This has been a magnificent experience with one of the greatest sports enterprises of the modern day," he said in a statement released on Tuesday. "I am thankful and proud to have played a part in their brand story working with Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White, Lawrence Epstein and all the talented individuals at the UFC. "With the new leadership from WME/IMG the next era of continuing to redefine the global sports landscape is very exciting. I wish them well delivering on their vision for success."
Back in Manchester for UFC 204 earlier this month, Cook gave little indication his time at the promotion was coming to an end, speaking to the Sun about his plans to expand the business into Asia.
“We’re not even opened up in Russia – never had an event in Russia. Khabib’s one of the big fighters coming out of Russia. There’s a lot of talent there.
“You start to look at China, you start to look at the Asian markets. Like any other global business, there’s nothing wrong with continuing your international growth," he said on returning to the city where he made his name as a sports executive.
Having previously worked at Nike, Cook was hired as Manchester City's chief executive in 2008 by Thaksin Shinawatra. He kept his position after Sheikh Mansour's takeover but resigned in 2011 following an email scandal involving the mother of Nedum Onuoha.
Cook denied sending the defender's cancer-suffering mother an email that read: "Ravaged with it!!...I don't know how you sleep at night. You used to be such a nice man when I worked with you at Nike. G".
However he offered his resignation after a club investigation found "there is foundation" to the allegations.
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