As we reported last week, The Ultimate Fighter 12: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck will be broadcast in the UK and Ireland by Sky Sports 2. The deal was publicly confirmed today by both Sky and the UFC, with Sky Sports Managing Director Barney Francis saying that “We’re delighted to renew our association with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as we were the first UK broadcaster to feature the UFC back in 2002”. UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta added that “The Ultimate Fighter series combines the best aspects of reality TV and sport, and will give Sky Sports viewers a great insight into why the UFC’s brand of mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world.”
On his Facebook, UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik also announced that as part of the deal Sky Sports would be developing a UFC section of their website and the sport would now be covered on Sky’s 24 sports news channel, Sky Sports News. There is as yet no word on how this deal affects Sky’s coverage of UK mixed martial arts.