In an announcement that is huge for Irish fighters and Irish fight fans, BT Sports have announced a deal to exclusively broadcast UFC events in Ireland and the UK.
Mike Sheridan
BT announced in February of this year that they’d purchased ESPN UK and Ireland, and also the rights for a heap of Premier League games – instantly making themselves a rival to be reckoned with for Sky Sports.
Rumours had been circulating for some time that Sky were planning a deal to take The Ultimate Fighting Championship to these shores, but this announcement has shut down that hearsay and offered obvious clarity.
Garry Cook, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of UFC EMEA, said “This agreement is a landmark step in UFC’s development in the UK as it will increase our exposure to a much wider and more mainstream sporting audience. It means that the UK joins USA, Canada, Australia and Brazil as one of our largest TV broadcast markets.
“BT Sport certainly shares our vision for the premium quality broadcast of elite performance sport for our UK audience and we’re very excited about the strategic partnership we’ve entered into. We look forward to working alongside them and showing a wider fan base how exciting and engaging the UFC is.”
According to the press release from the UFC the three-year partnership will see all of UFC’s live and taped programming broadcast on the BT Sport channels and, for the first time, will include originally produced programming for the UK and Irish audience with exclusive access which will result in up to 400 hours of TV programming to UFC’s loyal fanbase.
This basically means more Mixed Martial Arts for Irish fans and more opportunities for Irish fighters to fight in huge main events. While it’s yet to be confirmed, the assumption is these events and shows would be available to watch on the station that is now ESPN UK and Ireland.
Dana White obviously meant it when he told Conor McGregor that the UFC would be back in Dublin soon.
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