UFC To Announce ESPN Deal On Friday

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 1:12 AM EDT

Since I like hard core MMA fans at BE screaming like little girls in a Jonas Brothers concert, I will post this piece of news for you guys, from the Sun via MMAMania:

ESPN are set to clinch a deal with the UFC to screen fight cards on UK television, SunSport can exclusively reveal.

The American TV giant - owned by Disney - are understood to have secured the rights to broadcast the MMA promotion's biggest events, starting with UFC 101 next month.

We understand a deal has been agreed between the two parties and UFC president Dana White has called a press conference on Friday to announce the news.

ESPN launch their UK channel on August 3 and their cameras will be at the Philadelphia Wachovia Centre to shoot UFC 101 on August 8.

Our ESPN source said: "We're on the brink of having lots to share, just waiting for the ink to dry on a couple of things."

UFC refused to confirm a deal had been completed but a source close to the discussions did say: "You've got good ears" when we asked for a comment after relaying our information to them.

ESPN executives were special guests of UFC president Dana White at UFC 100 and a network TV deal in the United States is also expected to be announced.

Also noted:

-Vitor and Tito re-joining the UFC will porbably be announced on Friday.

- According to the Sun, Fedor and UFC talks are still ongoing, and have not been finalized.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Comments

Interesting to see if this could eventually expand to ESPN on ABC in the US, much like Showtime and CBS…

Know anything about the US rights?

by MMAWrestling on Jul 29, 2009 1:15 AM EDT reply actions

a network TV deal in the United States is also expected to be announced.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I should learn how to read…. Thanks.

by MMAWrestling on Jul 29, 2009 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I was about to say. A UK deal would be cool but not big enough news to do a press conf here in teh states IMO.

GSP: I pulled my groin.

Greg Jackson: I don't care Georges! HIT HIM WITH YOUR GROIN!

by xFenixKnightx on Jul 29, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions

so ESPN UK. Good for the Brits, but for us Americans I hope there is more.

by Sokonojudo on Jul 29, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Should have gone like this, Supremacy.

ESPN are set to clinch a deal with the UFC to screen fight cards on US television, SunSport can exclusively reveal.

The American TV giant – owned by Disney – are understood to have secured the rights to broadcast the MMA promotion’s biggest events, starting with UFC 101 next month.

We understand a deal has been agreed between the two parties and UFC president Dana White has called a press conference on Friday to announce the news.

ESPN launch their UK channel on August 3 and their cameras will be at the Philadelphia Wachovia Centre to shoot UFC 101 on August 8.

Our ESPN source said: “We’re on the brink of having lots to share, just waiting for the ink to dry on a couple of things.”

UFC refused to confirm a deal had been completed but a source close to the discussions did say: “You’ve got good ears” when we asked for a comment after relaying our information to them.

ESPN executives were special guests of UFC president Dana White at UFC 100 and a network TV deal in the UK is also expected to be announced.

I know, I know… lol

GSP: I pulled my groin.

Greg Jackson: I don't care Georges! HIT HIM WITH YOUR GROIN!

by xFenixKnightx on Jul 29, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Good stuff Supe! Rec’d.

by filipinomix2oo0 on Jul 29, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions

Dana dosen’t sleep. I don’t see how he can…he is probably so strung out right now from this crazy ass week. haha

"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate

by Kaleb Kelchner on Jul 29, 2009 1:35 AM EDT reply actions

I bet his

skull hurts from smiling like an insane sailor in a 2 bit whorehouse.

by Riney on Jul 29, 2009 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Still can’t do it in America because of Spike, right?

Where’s the damn ABC deal already?

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 29, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions

a sport on abc has to be done with espn.

by Phildo on Jul 29, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Rec'd. Thanks supremacy. :)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com

by Anton Tabuena on Jul 29, 2009 2:13 AM EDT reply actions

Sweetness

Let’s hope there’s good news on the Fedor front as well (pretty, pretty, please…)

Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 29, 2009 2:55 AM EDT reply actions

Does this mean MMA Live will finally be on air?

by steak_knife on Jul 29, 2009 3:12 AM EDT reply actions

franklin mcneil mania is at hand

by woooburn on Jul 29, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Any idea what this means for ireland? Setanta ireland is still up and running and showing a UFC programing,it showed UFC 100 live??

by RealIrish on Jul 29, 2009 3:30 AM EDT reply actions

Mann

i feel bad for spike losing some of its only orginal programming

kinda feels like ufc is backstabbing them

Buddey System

by Amigop on Jul 29, 2009 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

Spike got the Ultimate Fighter for nothing, at least in the beginning. I’m sure the UFC’s done more for them than vice versa. Reruns of bad action movies does not a network make. It’s true the UFC was struggling back then, but Spike will probably consider themselves extremely lucky if they get to keep anything. The Ultimate Fighter, Fight Nights, or what have you. Guess we’ll see Friday.

by Kwisatz Haderach on Jul 29, 2009 5:10 AM EDT up reply actions

The UFC is signed with Spike through 2011.

I sincerely doubt they will EVER leave Spike completely. What other network will let them run 40+ hours a week of UFC programming? I suspect any ESPN deal will just be for live cards over and above what Zuffa has contracted with Spike.

by Steve4192 on Jul 29, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Also, as mentioned before, the UFC is a loyalty-based business.

Spike worked with the UFC when no one else would.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jul 29, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

In addition, since I can't get ESPN (go protectionism) in Canada, I hope stuff stays on Spike.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jul 29, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Just for a bit of background, this is to be a new sports channel in the UK (there were previously 2 niche channels – ESPN America and ESPN Classics), borne out of the demise of Setanta. ESPN picked up Setanta’s English premier league game rights, and this channel will mostly be based around that. They have picked up a few other things, MLB Scottish football, College football to name a few, including these UFC rights and will be charging £9-£12 a month for an SD and HD channel.

Works nice for me, I was paying £10 a month for Setanta, was only watching UFC and football and was only getting SD. Setanta had a lot more sports, but since I never watched them, its no real loss to me.

by -Sam on Jul 29, 2009 4:34 AM EDT reply actions

ALSO...

The Sept 19th slot on ABC opened up as a game was rescheduled to the 26th.This is a way more likely possibility.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Jul 29, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

What game? espn.com says that ABC has Texas vs Texas Tech and for the evening of 9/19

by Phildo on Jul 29, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Texas Tech vs. Texas has been reported as potentially being moved to a non-primetime slot on the 19th now instead of a Primetime slot. It hasn’t really been reported, and I only found out because a buddy informed me from down there who listened to the news on a Houston radio station. It is probably not finalized, so it could potentially die out. But that’s the story. The game is moving to a non-primetime slot apparently.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Jul 29, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea that seems weird, I didn’t hear anything about that, and it seems odd and late to move that game.

Usually the night games are set in stone, and that seems like a big game, if that is moving, something is definitely up.

by Phildo on Jul 29, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

From everything I’ve heard, it’s only been reported through this Houston radio show, maybe others, but since there is no confirmation from media outlets, nobody knows right now. Plus, it might not be released until the UFC and ESPN on ABC make a public statement of a deal, if they do at all.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Jul 29, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow...

I don’t know if I’m ready for a world in which MMASupremacy posts favorable UFC news/rumors…

I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.

by Loot on Jul 29, 2009 8:54 AM EDT reply actions

If you cant beat them join them…

by mmalogic on Jul 29, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hahaha…you wish. I don’t join anything.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Indeed. If memory serves...

MMASuPreMaCy has made clear in the past his unwillingness to be a part of any organization that would have him as a member.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jul 29, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

No word on how many invitations he actually received.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 29, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

This was all based off of him being shunned by WAMMA.

If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.

by BJJDenver on Jul 29, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

:-D

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 30, 2009 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Fedor isn’t being announced to the UFC, the UFC is announcing an ESPN on ABC deal. ABC already cleared a time slot, and one of the indicators is that ABC cleared a slot that was already taken in Sept 19th.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Jul 29, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

are you for real? don’t play with emotions man

by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 29, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone down in Houston told me that a Houston radio show actually confirmed that ABC had moved the Texas Tech vs. Texas game from a Primetime slot to a non-primetime slot. Does that mean anything? Nobody knows, but it’s interesting considering Texas Tech vs. Texas is a huge fucking game, HUGE.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Jul 29, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s crazy that they would do that because Texas vs Texas Tech is absolutely GOLD for ratings. That is the one problem with being signed to ABC, is that the College Football games is what they are known for, and give them tons of ratings. What are they going to do when USC plans a late game on Saturday, etc. It seems crazy that they would move the football games out of prime time slot for the UFC in this early stage still.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I see it as making perfect sense. It’s not like they are going to lose all their viewers by moving the start time of the football game up. They will still have most if not all the viewers and it will be a great lead in to the UFC event if that is what is happening.

by mattman73 on Jul 29, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Nothing to do with that, but for College Football, losing a prime time slot hurts them. Also, it is really tough to put a sporting event as a lead in since there can always be OT etc, so, thats always real difficult to do. We will see what happens, I guess.

by MMASuPreMaCy on Jul 29, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions