ESPN confirm UFC deal

ESPN have confirmed that they have secured the rights to air the UFC in UK and Ireland.

The UFC have been looking for a new UK TV partner after the previous rights holder, Setanta, went out of business.

ESPN vice president Jeroen Oerlemans said in a statement: “ESPN’s aim is to serve UK and Ireland sports fans by bringing the very best of both domestic and international live sport to their living rooms. We are delighted to add UFC, TOP 14 ORANGE, the leading French Rugby Championship, the Australia Football League, EuroBasket and DTM to our growing portfolio of live sport.

“In addition to our Barclays Premier League and Clydesdale Bank Premier League coverage from this season we will continue to seek out and deliver the best sporting events from Europe and around the globe.”

UFC 101 on August 8 will be the first event shown at ESPN in the UK and Ireland.

Tags: UFC