UFC 95 to air free on Spike TV

by MMAmania.com on Dec 23, 2008 12:12 PM EST

Despite earlier reports that indicated otherwise, it appears that UFC 95, which is scheduled to take place from The O2 Arena in London, England, on February 21, will air for free on Spike TV in the United States via tape delay.

The promotion recently listed the long-rumored event on its official Web site along with the good news.

European-based pay-per-view (PPV) events historically don't perform as well as others, which could be the reason the promotion was able to hammer out a deal with its cable television provider. It could also be the fact that the UFC has already booked the first quarter of 2009 with several shows.

Have a look at the early jam-packed schedule for the New Year:

UFC 93: "Franklin vs. Henderson" from The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on January 17
UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2" from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 31
UFC Fight Night 17 from the University of Southern Florida (USF) Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on February 7
UFC 95 from the O2 Arena in London, England, on February 21
UFC 96 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 7
UFC 97 from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, on April 18

And those are just the ones we know about -- more could be in the works ... especially of the "Fight Night" variety.

UFC 95 currently features the highly anticipated lightweight debut of Diego Sanchez against Joe Stevenson in the main event of the evening. Middleweights Nate Marquardt and Wilson Gouveia are also expected to mix it up in an important division clash.

Stay tuned for more announcements ... there's another juicy 185-pound match up in the works. For more on the UFC 95 fight card and rumors click here.

Tweet Comment 50 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

WOW! UFC is a monster of a company. Talk about flexing your muscles in 2009 (all before 2008 is even wrapped up). Can’t wait!! Hopefully some really solid cards will shape up in the upcoming weeks.

by EQMANG on Dec 23, 2008 12:18 PM EST reply actions

They decided to make it free on Spike cause they couldn’t land A. Silva or Liddell as they originally had hoped. If they would have had either of those two, we’d be gettin’ our credit cards out for UFC 95

by RedDog on Dec 23, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

BIGTIME match up alert***

k-1/Dynamite has added another battle to its NYE show:

Alistar Overeem vs. Badr Hari under K-1 rules!!!! WOW!!!!

They also agreed to fight again in early 09 under mma rules!

by john on Dec 23, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

wow, badr dominates under K-1, alistar under mma rules.

by shamo84 on Dec 23, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

sweet

by roy on Dec 23, 2008 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

shit my boy allistairs going to get his head kicked off

by Jared on Dec 23, 2008 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

This fight is so damn Juicy. If anyone in mma is going to stand and bang with a K-1 striker, Alistar is about as good as anyone….I guess! He is a dutch Kickboxer who relied on those skills in mma for years. NO way am I saying that I expect Alistar to win, but he might be able to hang in there for a little! Karma is a bitch and Alistar is gonna pay for all those knees to the nuts!

I cant wait till the rematch when they fight under mma rules

by john on Dec 23, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

IN CANADA… the last UFC from the O2 (Leben vs Bisping) was not tape delayed. It was shown live on Sportsnet starting around 4 pm Atlantic. Check your time zone.

by DJ on Dec 23, 2008 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

Dude…You’re a life saver! I got totally screwed last time. Thanks for the heads up!

by Dugout on Dec 23, 2008 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

wasn’t this supposed to be to expensive for spike to play free? wonder what happened? not complaining, just curious!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

forget it, that was hendo/franklin!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

To attend this event should be free with a main event Diego vs Stevenson

by Liddell-Marquardt-GSP-Sherk on Dec 23, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

this is good news! I’m glad I found justin tv, (watched the pats game this weekend on it) because I’m not about to buy 4 ppv’s in a matter of 6 weeks! I’ll buy bj/gsp and rip affliction. it helps that my computer screen is 20 something inches and HD!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions

I would also recommend soapcast, coz the streams on justin get interrupted a lot. Yea, i wasn’t about to pay for this card.

by NameNotRequired on Dec 23, 2008 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

sopcast you got to dowload stuff, and I’ve never had a problem with interruptions. ustream is another one!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

For Sopcast, don’t download anything… just login “anonymous” and you will be good to go.

by DJ on Dec 23, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

how though, it says username/password. I’m lost!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Hey Kevin, the page changed since I used it last so…. my bad.

by DJ on Dec 23, 2008 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

ok bud, I thought I was going crazy!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

I hope for the sake of the fans in the UK that the UFC adds at least one more headliner.

If the UFC is serious about breaking into the euro market, then they need to start putting serious fights on the card.

by RealDrew on Dec 23, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions

Last time i bloody buy tickets to a UFC event before a Main event is announced….
This is basically confirmation that the card is going to be pretty poor. Just glad I didn’t book my flights from Ireland yet. Anyone want cheap tickets?

by MMAGreen on Dec 23, 2008 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll buy UFC 94 and Affliction….the rest…meh.

by introvert on Dec 23, 2008 12:27 PM EST reply actions

what about 92? meh also? – lol

by Anger Jack on Dec 23, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

i love pride and with kang,shogun,coleman & henderson ufc 93 is a tempter

by braveheart on Dec 23, 2008 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll get 92…it isn’t in the “New Year”, as the article is all about.

by introvert on Dec 23, 2008 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

AHH, you know no matter how bad you hate on UFC you will still get every one of them

by Scott on Dec 23, 2008 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

i will probally buy all three but if i have to skip one it will be 93

by roy on Dec 23, 2008 12:41 PM EST up reply actions

93 should be cool too and hey, if 95 is free….

by McArthur on Dec 23, 2008 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

93 should be good, i have been wanting to see franklin vs henderson for awhile, its just if i have to miss one it won’t be bj vs gsp or fedor vs aa

by roy on Dec 23, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

Agree,but alot of the people in the US,do not like the UK events.Its in the middle of the day for us,and it just for some reason, just does not seem to have the same energy.I do agree though,if my memory is correct the only good one that Europe has got was the one with Rampage vs Henderson,like I said that was i while back so I might be wrong but I believe that was the one that had Gonzaga vs Cro cop,

by Scott on Dec 23, 2008 12:39 PM EST reply actions

Gonzaga/Cro Cop was 70. 75 had Cro Cop vs. Kongo.

by Stefan Manojlovic on Dec 23, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

I buy every single UFC/Affiction and anything else I can because you never know whats going to happen….good fights don’t neccessarily mean great big name fighters are involved

by McArthur on Dec 23, 2008 12:42 PM EST reply actions

kevin – can you tell me how to order a ppv fight and watch it on your computer? sorry, im really not computer savvy and im gonna be without access to cable tv this weekend, and i will die if i dont see UFC 92. thanks!

by Andrew on Dec 23, 2008 12:42 PM EST reply actions

Yahoo sports the day of the fight.

by Psyqo78®™ on Dec 23, 2008 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

mania what is the other juicy 185lb match up in the works

by liamd on Dec 23, 2008 12:46 PM EST reply actions

no sh*t…it’s like getting head and the b*tch doesn’t swallow!

by kevin on Dec 23, 2008 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

yeah thats real gay! Just label it as a rumor and spit it out! Dont make me go find out!

by john on Dec 23, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions

Nate/Gouveia is UFC 95 if thats juicy enough for ya

by McArthur on Dec 23, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

ufc 93 is a card for the pride diehards! where u at? holla at this post

by braveheart on Dec 23, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions

ufc 92 has a bit of everything

Rampage vs Silva is gonna be a brawl!
Nog vs Mir is gonna be a grappling fest
Evans vs Forrest is gonna be a chess match! the fighter who make the 1st mistake could be curtains for em!

by braveheart on Dec 23, 2008 12:59 PM EST reply actions

Thank God!! I’m glad UFC decided to do this because with UFC 93 and UFC 94 both on ppv then it was common sense to put UFC 95 on spike especially without a big name main event. Good decision UFC

by Jacob Camargo on Dec 23, 2008 2:04 PM EST reply actions

so what time would ufc 93 start if its on tape delay?

by Jared on Dec 23, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions

So far UFC 95 is looking pretty crappy. I can understand why they’ve done this. I just feel bad for the guys in the U.K. who keep on getting crappy card after crappy card.

by Mr. Jitters on Dec 23, 2008 4:01 PM EST reply actions

I apologize to the UK fans who keep getting crappy cards. But seriously be lucky that you are getting them. I live in Houston and we got UFC 69 and have been craving for another event either in Houston again or Dallas every since. I wouldnt care who was on the card. There is no feeling like being at a UFC event live. You have to realize though that when they do a ppv in the UK that we get the fights on a Sat during mid day which sucks for us. And like me if you try to watch the replay at night time usually you have had buddies that get onto the threads to find out who wins and spoils it for you. So be glad that you atleast get events

by See What Had Happend Was !!!! on Dec 23, 2008 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Be glad that we at least get events… yeah, I agree with you there. But do you know what time EVERY pay-per-view is on here in England?

3am.

Main Event starts at 5am.

So, likewise, be happy that you get events normal time :) Overall though, I think it is pretty even as to which is the best country to be a fan of UFC in. In the States you have to pay a shit-load, but get it at a decent time. Events are scarce in your area normally. In UK, we have to pay a little bit (about $20) but get it in the early hours, but we do get an event that is reachable every few months, but they arnt usually that good.

by Adam on Dec 23, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

i think ufc was backed in a corner, no main event, anything free is good for me

by bryant on Dec 23, 2008 7:51 PM EST reply actions

No the truth is this stinks, piloting a show with liddell or anderson, lets face it these rumours were around and they came from somewhere, fans then buy tickets. the result is diego v stevenson, this is a fucking disgrace!!

Uk fans are lucky??? Are you serious?? Thats ok if you live in London which is easy to access, however im from Scotland and have shelled out £330 for my tickets, Iv still to pay for accommodation and flights!!!! I bought my tickets with the promise of “the best show yet” and the possibility of seeing chuck or/and anderson.

Dana should be offering refunds, there is no way ill sell my tickets to such a crap event!! Fucking first live show i was going to and its gony suck!!!!

How can this have gone so wrong, I knew it when I said weeks ago that no main event wasscheduled and got shot down by you guys, except a few. television fee show at best, sickening!!

by mo on Dec 23, 2008 8:03 PM EST reply actions

ya, because the last anderson silva fight was a barn burner for sure.

by Egads on Dec 23, 2008 11:56 PM EST up reply actions

Don’t ever listen to Dana, he is full of shit. The UFC pulled this stunt before, selling tickets for 85 advertising Chuck V Shogun KNOWING FULL WELL SHOGUN WAS INJURED & COULD NOT FIGHT !!!! SCUMBAG CROOKS !!!

by Fightbuddha on Dec 24, 2008 7:13 PM EST up reply actions

i dont know why people complain that a card sucks until its accually over. i dont care if its 2 no namers, as long as they beat the crap outta one another. wasnt the cooture/lesnar card supposed to suck yet everyone is now saying it rocked. and my wife thinks i’m pessimistic. if she read some of your posts she would think i’m as happy as santa himself.

by Egads on Dec 23, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions