UFC 100 will reportedly air LIVE in the UK on July 11
by Jesse Holland on Jun 30, 2009 7:48 PM EDT
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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is expected to announce a new home for its live programming in the United Kingdom (UK) after an abrupt end to its partnership with Setanta Sports, according to The Sun.
One of the biggest shows in mixed martial arts history is set to go down on July 11 when UFC 100 blows up the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On the main card will be one of the UK's biggest stars, Michael Bisping, as he collides with opposing Ultimate Fighter coach Dan Henderson to determine a possible number one contender for the UFC middleweight crown.
In wake of the financial collapse of Setanta Sports, there was speculation that a home for the upcoming live broadcast would not be found in time for the big show, forcing fans across the pond to wait for "The Count" to appear via tape delay.
Not to worry, says UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik:
"I'd like to guarantee our loyal British and Irish fans that UFC 100 will be LIVE on television over here. You won't have to wait to see the biggest event in UFC history. UFC 100 will be live in the UK."
Starting with UFC 80 back on January 19, 2008, the Ultimate Fighting Championship struck a deal with international sports broadcaster Setanta Sports to bring the UFC to millions of homes in the United Kingdom.
Setanta operates in Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Australia and provides premium sports television channels on a subscription basis, including its multi-year deal with Zuffa.
That deal recently eroded due to the financial instability of Setanta.
Unfortunately the dissolution of some of its English Premier League rights left Setanta strapped for cash and on the prowl for some emergency funding. A complete and utter collapse in operations — which would effectively blackout any and all UFC programming in the UK, had been reported as inevitable.
It was unknown if UFC 99, scheduled for June 13 in Cologne, Germany, would even make the airwaves in the UK until just a day before the broadcast, jeopardizing the momentum of Zuffa’s Europe expansion.
Now it looks like the UFC isn't taking any chances with its future programming as they consider a new partnership from six different networks including Virgin 1, Sky Sports, Bravo and ESPN.
Though a long term deal would likely begin with UFC 101, Virgin 1 is reportedly the lead candidate to air UFC 100 prior to that.
An official announcement is expected by next Monday.
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Good news, though considering that the UFC had a back-up channel for 99 in case Setanta went bust before the PPV I’m not that suprised that 100 will air live over here. The UFC is in a much stronger bargaining position in this country than it was when the Setanta deal was first made, so I’m hopeful that they can get a good deal out of this.
by David W-S on Jun 30, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Which was the back-up channel for UFC 99 David? I’m so glad UFC 100 won’t be shown on Bravo – the duration and frequency of the adverts on that channel take the proverbial piss!
by jayshogun on Jun 30, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not sure to be honest, but Marshall and Dana both promised at the time that they would get the show on the air if Setanta closed down before then, so I presume that they had a back-up channel ready otherwise that could have been an embarrassing moment for the UFC.
I’m wondering what’s going to happen to BAMMA, as I doubt that they’re too thrilled that Bravo are bidding for the UFC rights. In the unlikely event that Bravo win the rights, it could be disastrous for UK MMA, as the UFC would be back to square 1, we wouldn’t get live shows and BAMMA would be thrown off the air before they’d even got a chance to establish themselves. Hopefully Virgin or Sky get the rights, seeing how ESPN don’t even have a proper channel yet.
by David W-S on Jun 30, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GREAT!!
Now the UK can see Bisping get his mu-f*(kin’ @ss kicked!!!
by mikeybear on Jul 1, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im happy its gonna be shown, dont really care where its shown as long as it aint Bravo, they tape delay by like a day as they cant do live shows, and as David said above, it would suck for the Bamma guys, as even tho its no UFC its a pretty decent show they puttin on.
I in a way wish it goes to Sky sports and its a PPV, i wouldnt mind paying £15 or what ever to watch the show with having to skip to adverts every 10 mins and between every round the way shitanta did
by CoN'r on Jul 1, 2009 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just wanna be able to see the fights live and in high quality as watching streams over the internet is really shitty and will kill it for me.
Ive got a feeling they may be PPV but if it is the numbers watching will go down a hell of a lot with only the hardcore fans paying to watch IMO.
by Ca$z on Jul 1, 2009 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PPV is never gonna be successful here when we have to pay £16 for a show that doesn’t start till 3am!
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What, they dont do tape delay?? Usually if a fight starts at an odd time they just air the PPV at 7pm over here regardless. Cept for the Wandi vs Franklin fight, I think thats first time it aired live, it was wierd cause it started at like 2pm.
by O damn he got caught on Jul 1, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tape delay’s not the same here because we’re 6- 8 hours ahead of vegas time. So any of our live PPv’s will still air at a reasonable time for you, as you say 2pm or you can wait and watch it on delay at the normal time.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree mate. hope virgin get right. sky sports would show events on sky box office to make money the greedy bastards
by scott on Jul 2, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree with you there Scott,we hope Virgin 1 get it too.
Theres lots of folk on the bones of their arses with this financial slump.They’re having to make cutbacks and PPV is one of the first things to go.
We all know whats happened to boxing over the last few years after it went PPV,it was killed by greed.
by Ricster on Jul 7, 2009 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey when bravo had ufc events they rearly ever put adverts in the LIVE events, only the re-shows, the best thing about it being on bravo was the fact they had a ufc programe on nearly every night re-shows and unleashed, i doubt virgin will have that commitment, glad i got sky cos i hear virgin plays up alot on freeview boxes.
by had0k3n on Jul 7, 2009 6:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we will be bringing a freakshow in UK..good point!!
by gaara on Jun 30, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think virgin or channel 5 would be ideal as long as they show them live. Sky Sports would be awesome unless they made it PPV which would be likely.
by mack3333 on Jun 30, 2009 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Channel 5????? No chance in hel of MMa being shown on terrestrial tv chief.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 5:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont know they are reported to be in the running for the ufc deal although they are dark horses
i personally hope it’ll be shown on virgin
by ufcaddict on Jul 1, 2009 6:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Channel 5 has been reported as second favourites to get the rights.
by mack3333 on Jul 1, 2009 7:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I cant see it being allowed on a prime time slot at 9pm like bravo had, a slight chance of it being shown in the middle of the night perhaps. I just dont think the sport has the acceptance levels to be shown on terrestrial tv, not for many years.
Any articles on the sport on terrestrial tv are always accompanied by the terms “human cockfighting” “bloodsport” “cage fighting” and “barbaric”. We all know it’s bullsh!t but left wing do gooders would be up in arms IMO and scupper any deal.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can’t see channel 5 getting it as then the UFC would lose all its Irish viewers. Channel 5 isn’t widely available in Ireland
by MMAGreen on Jul 1, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I honestly can’t see 5 getting it, but who knows? Wouldn’t be a bad thing, I like channel 5. COME ON BISPING!!!
by Die Henderson Die on Jul 9, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t see why UFC would put it on Channel 5 as it’s not available in Ireland whereas Virgin and Sky are so if it went to Channel 5 it’d mean they lose their irish audience
by Chipmunk on Jul 1, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is great, i really didnt want to miss this event, the card has 3 awesome fights, Bisping, GSP and Lesnar.
JayShogun… Were did it say it wont be shown on Bravo? And i do agree about the adverts, its a pain in the arse, but the programs are great.
by Conor on Jun 30, 2009 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
at last some news!!! I hope it ends up on sky sports as long as its not ppv. this would certainly enhance the sports the growth as sky sports is by far the main sports providor over here. Just glad its gony be on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by mo on Jun 30, 2009 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
F@ck sky, they dabbled with it before and didn’t pursue it, and p!ssed about with cage rage too much. Guaranteed to go to PPV if it was on sky too.
Virgin coud be a good home for the UFC just as long as they dont fall into the bravo trap of doing the worlds longest adverts every 10 minutes.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow! How much for a round trip ticket from DFW to Heathrow?
by PW on Jun 30, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i love how all us americans pay 50 bucks to watch it while brits get it free, i think all over seas events should be free, why should we have to pay?? it’s only fair!!
by bryant on Jun 30, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
they pay for an extra set of channels that’s like our sports packages
by randy murders on Jun 30, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep – I pay £62p/m (including £10.00 for HD), so its not free but its not bad.
by MoonUK on Jul 1, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can watch us stuff you in the ashes instead ;-)
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s b.s. that’s brits get to see the u.f.c. for free when us americans have to pay for the sport which originated here I have odered every single p.p.v. since like u.f.c. 65 and I get rewarded by letting the brits see the best card of the year for free when we have to pay for piece of shit cards that the u.f.c. puts out overseas! Dam dana I love the u.f.c. but you just disapointed me
by ryan on Jul 1, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It aint free! We have to pay a sky or virgin subscription to get it. It’s different for you guys paying PPV, its shown primetime your side of the pond, whereas over here it doesn’t start till 3am. Bit chheky expecting people to fork out extra for something they’re unlikely to stay awake for and watch live.
The sport’s stil in its infancy here too, so charging £20 a month for PPV’s is no way to try and grow the sport here.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually this sport really originated in brazil, and us brits kicked ur yank asses in the last ultimate fighter series!!
by rob on Jul 5, 2009 4:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good news regarding 100, But I hope this doesn’t mean 101 onwards will be tape delayed either.
by Pete on Jul 1, 2009 2:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nooooooo Sky Sports or Channel 5 would have been the best, as much as i know virgin 1 is on par with bravo where as the other 2 would definitely be step ups (channel 5 being terrestrial TV and sky sports being the premier sports channel over here)
by SGTBlitz on Jul 1, 2009 4:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yep it’s on channel 121 and virgin+1 is on channel 122.
by Chipmunk on Jul 1, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just cant see it going to channel 5. They certainly wouldn’t be allowed to show it before midnight, I’d bet money on that. You’re not allowed to show poker here before 11 o’clock on terrestrial tv. It’d just be shown at four in the morning after their baseball coverage. Don’t even think sky are that into MMA with all the lame excuses they used for pulling out of the cage rage deal.
by attakdog on Jul 1, 2009 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Setanta cost approx $27 for a month’s subscription when it was broadcasting in the UK so it wasnt free!!! Just cheaper than your PPV!!! At least you get Spike etc showing UFC replays etc for free.
by Stu on Jul 1, 2009 4:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dunno how u was paying but my setanta subscription came in at $16 a month and considering you got the football on the channel its real bad that the channel shut down.
Personally I’m hoping Channel 5 get it. Usually they only mess up with having bad commentators etc whilst showing other sports (small infrequent adverts) but with the UFC themselves handling the production theres really no way they can mess things up.
by stuart on Jul 1, 2009 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I believe the $27 a month was part of a multichannel deal on virgin cable.
by Casual fan on Jul 1, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hope it aint channel 5….its not terrestrial in ireland!! virgin 1 please dana!
by irishlilpete on Jul 1, 2009 6:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Can’t see channel 5 getting the rights, as someone above said, the channel is not available in Ireland. Personally, I just hope the events continue to be shown live as that cuts out all the ridiculous ads that used to wreck the Bravo coverage. In fairness to Setanta, there were only ads between fights on the live cards, not after every round as someone above suggested. And… wish the yanks would stop bitching and moaning about the cost difference. If ye think the overseas events are crap then don’t order them. I wouldn’t expect American fans of the Premiership to pay the same cost as us to watch matches in the middle of the night.
by GoonerMark on Jul 1, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Setanta do have adverts during the round breaks, at 99 they actually had very little in way of adverts, but the rest of the time they always have breaks after pre fight interviews then either the 1st or 2nd rounds and always cut to break before buffer announces the winner…
ok it sorta good to cut out some of random bollix and give me time for a piss or beer run.
also if it went to PPV on Sky i would love to be able to see the undercard
by CoN'r on Jul 1, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Dana had a issues with the why sky were repackaging the shows last time they had it. He wants Zuffa to have control of the show whereas sky wants to do their own production ?
This could also be a problem for Bravo if they plan on showing it the same way as last time.
by Casual fan on Jul 1, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Music to my ears. Now please officially annouce and confirm.
by UK_Chris on Jul 1, 2009 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Exactly get this confirmed ASAP and put my mind at rest!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by mo on Jul 1, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
us brits prbably get it 4 3 cause were better at the sport than u. im sure the last tuf was won by 2 brits. demarcus johnson aint so cocky now is he?
by chypendahlay on Jul 1, 2009 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
hopefully virgin 1 gets it cause if sky get they will more than likely make it pay per view like they did with the wwe and major boxing events
virgin 1 showed good coverage of TUF: UK Vs USA and im thiniking alot more people have virgin 1 than sky sports
so come on dana give it to virgin 1
by paul on Jul 3, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i agree with paul if sky sports (our major sports channel over here) get the rights to show it they will broadcast some of the events on sky box office, like with WWE. i personally hop that virgin get the rights they done well with TUF and hopefully the next series of TUF will be shown on virgin 1 with coaches Rashad and Rampage.
Hurry up and announce it!!!
by LewisUK on Jul 3, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
IS virgin one on regular freeview? If it is i will wet myself if they get it!
by Dave on Jul 5, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
its 5 mins to Tuesday, wheres the freakin announcement?
by Owain on Jul 6, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It has to be virgin 1 for me however if it were to get shown on SS/box office I would have no problems paying up to £20 for it. All am asking for is they sort out the contract for 100 now, and worry about the rest later. Also would ESPN be a subscription service??
by Roscoufc on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It has to be virgin 1 for me however if it were to get shown on SS/box office I would have no problems paying up to £20 for it. All am asking for is they sort out the contract for 100 now, and worry about the rest later. Also would ESPN be a subscription service??
by Roscoufc on Jul 8, 2009 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i sincerely hope it aint sky and certainly not PPV.
i aint a tight arse but to get sky i would have to pay £20 a month on top of what i already pay. then the £15 PPV. no chance, espessialy when i was seeing it for free with shitanta.
i would only get sky sports for the YFC not much else.
virgin i would think, have the best chance as their channel is available to most folks and they have already screened TUF 9.
by the polecat on Jul 8, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
just checked and its been confirmed for uk, ufc 100 will be shown on sky channel 433 for 9 hours 9pm-6am . 100 greatest fights, then countdown to ufc then the fights
if you are on free view or virgin you cannot watch it, it will only be on sky cahnnel 433 , you can watch it for fre at ufc.com .
i hope this helps
by Naomi on Jul 9, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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