UFC to Fox in 2012

News, Top Story

After years of seeking a broadcast TV deal, UFC might have finally snagged a big one. According Sports Business Journal Daily, the UFC and Fox have recently agreed to a multi-year deal that will put up to four events a year upon the Fox network as well as the traditional Fight Night cards. The move would also put The Ultimate Fighter on Fox’s sister network, FX.

The deal is reportedly worth $90 million per year for UFC and will last 7 or 8 years.

With all TV ties to Spike TV and Versus ending at the end of 2011, the organization was free to shop their services elsewhere. It had previously been reported that UFC was interested in acquiring the G4 network in a deal with NBC/Comcast, but those talks fell through. With this deal with Fox, they have significantly increased their potential viewership and exposure with content on the Fox parent site, as well as FX and Fuel.

UPDATE: Heavy MMA is reporting that an anonymous offical from FOX is confirming the deal is done.

An Inside Pulse "original", SMS is one of the founding members of Inside Pulse and serves as the Chief Marketing Officer on the Executive Board. Smith is a fan of mixed martial arts and runs two sections of IP as Editor in Chief, RadioExile.com and InsideFights.com. Having covered music festivals around the world as well as conducting interviews with top-class professional wrestlers and musicians, he switched gears from music coverage at Radio Exile to MMA after the first The Ultimate Fighter Finale. He resides with his wife in New York City.