UFC Agree Deal in Japan to Form New Television Series

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has agreed a deal with mixed martial arts series Vale Tudo Japan that will see the formation of a new televised series in the country.

The tournament will feature fighters from the bantamweight and featherweight classes, with the winner earning a contract from the UFC.

VTJ and the UFC will operate the new show which will air on Japanese terrestrial television and is comparable to the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter Competition.

UFC president Dana White said: “This show will be very Japanese. It will be shot here in Japan by a big, reputable company, for the Japanese market, to build Japanese stars.

“These guys will become known because of television. So you’ll have people with some star qualities or you’ll have fighters people dislike and want to see them lose, no different from anywhere in the world.”

According to a report by MMAFighting.com, the UFC could announce their terrestrial television partner for the show at the September 20 event at the Saitama Super Arena.