UFC signs Sky Sports broadcasting deal

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has signed a deal with Sky Sports for it to broadcast the first UK showing of the new 13-week Ultimate Fighter series, it has been announced.

The deal to screen the Team GSP v Team Koscheck Series from 21 September on Sky Sports 2 displays a big move forward in broadcasting for the mixed martial arts sport.

SkySports.com will also promote the series via a new UFC page which will include news, interviews and features and footage on the show and the wider UFC scene.

President of UFC’s international division, Marshall Zelaznik, said: “It is hard to build a sport on a narrow distribution platform, and our plan is to allow fans to see the product as inexpensively as possible. We are always conscious of how we make the sport more accessible and more available.”

Sky Sports’ managing director Barney Francis added: “We’re delighted to renew our association with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as we were the first UK broadcaster to feature the UFC back in 2002. The Ultimate Fighter series offers a unique taster of a sport that has experienced a phenomenal rise in popularity in recent years and we’re sure it’ll prove popular with our subscribers.”

This season will feature 28 of the world’s best lightweight (11 stone 1 lbs) prospects competing in a knock-out tournament to crown the next Ultimate Fighter and win a six-figure contract with the UFC.