Mixed Martial Arts
U-Next adds PFL to MMA line-up
Japanese streaming company U-Next has further bolstered its mixed martial arts portfolio by agreeing a multi-year rights deal with US promotion the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
UFC, WWE agree events deal with Anaheim’s OCVIBE
TKO Group, parent company of UFC and WWE, has agreed what is claimed to be a first-of-its-kind, five-year live events deal with OCVIBE, the $4bn (€3.71bn) sports and entertainment district being developed in Anaheim.
Entain to promote Ladbrokes brand in Australia through regional UFC deal
Entain-owned betting brand Ladbrokes has agreed a regional sponsorship deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Australia and New Zealand.
PFL lands expanded Latin American deal with Torneos, DirecTV
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced a multi-year expanded deal with Torneos for live and on-demand PFL and Bellator Champions Series events in Latin America
Topps replaces Panini to regain UFC trading-card licence
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced a multi-year deal with Topps for its trading-card licence, with the Fanatics-owned brand reacquiring the licence from Panini in the latest development…
Viaplay commits to UFC in Nordic markets
Viaplay has renewed its Ultimate Fighting Championship rights in its home Nordic markets in a ‘multi-year’ agreement that will bring over 40 live events to the broadcaster each year.
Sony extends UFC rights in Indian subcontinent
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has agreed a five-year contract extension with its rights-holder in India and the Indian subcontinent, media group Sony Pictures Networks India.
TKO unveils plans to merge UFC, WWE sponsorship rights teams
TKO Group, the Endeavor-owned public company created by last year’s merger of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has announced plans to combine the globa…
ONE Championship CCO Vijayarajan heads for exit
Hari Vijayarajan, chief commercial officer at ONE Championship, has left his role to become a regional chief executive at Reebelo, the Singapore-based consumer electronics resale platform
Poland’s KSW secures Megogo coverage in Ukraine, Central Asia
Megogo has picked up rights to Polish mixed martial arts promotion KSW in the streaming platform’s main market of Ukraine plus nine other countries spanning Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
ONE strikes breakthrough deal with Sky in UK
Combat sports promotion ONE Championship has taken another step towards greater exposure in Europe after striking a deal with UK pay-television broadcaster Sky
ESPN renews PFL rights in ‘multi-year’ deal
Disney-owned sports broadcaster ESPN has renewed its rights in the US to the Professional Fighters League mixed martial arts promotion
PFL acquires rival Bellator in direct challenge to UFC
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has acquired rival promotion Bellator from Paramount Global in a landmark deal in the global mixed martial arts space
UFC heads back to Sportsnet and TVA, agrees Roku documentary deal
Pay-television broadcasters Sportsnet and TVA Sports have regained English-language and French-language rights, respectively, in Canada to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), while the mixed martial arts promotion has agreed a documentary series deal with US streaming service Roku.
TKO posts mixed results in first quarterly earnings
TKO Group, the new Endeavor-owned public company created by the merger of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has announced mixed results in its first quarterly…
UFC to return to China next month with Shanghai event
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced today (Wednesday) that Shanghai will host a Fight Night event on December 9, in what will be the mixed martial arts promotion’s first visit to the country since before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bud Light returns to UFC in record sponsorship deal, AB InBev goes global
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced that Bud Light will become its official beer in the United States in a multi-year deal that also extends its partnership with AB InBev on a global…
PFL eyes profitability by 2025, targets top fighters to fuel PPV
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) expects to be profitable by 2025, off the back of its Saudi investment that will fund the acquisition of top fighters and staging of showpiece events that in turn…