Bellator has confirmed that it has renewed its broadcasting and streaming deal with UK broadcaster the BBC, with events set to be streamed live on BBC iPlayer throughout 2023.
The promotion had previously inked a two-year deal with the BBC for events to be shown on the BBC’s iPlayer streaming platform, which is available on all platforms. And now, with that initial agreement set to come to a close, both parties have agreed to an extended partnership that will keep all Bellator events in one place for UK fans for the remainder of the year.
The new deal kicks off immediately, with Bellator 291 set to take place in Dublin, Ireland on February 25, with Ukraine’s Yaroslav Amosov returning to action after fighting to defend his country from the Russian invasion. He’ll put his welterweight title on the line against interim champion Logan Storley from the US.
That event, along with all of the upcoming Bellator shows in 2023, will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer, and will be subsequently be available to stream on demand.
Commenting on the new deal, Head of Bellator Europe David Green said,
“We’ve enjoyed an incredibly successful relationship with the BBC to date, so we’re delighted to announce the renewal of this deal which has made world class MMA action more accessible than ever to fans in the UK.
“Our 2023 calendar shows the promotion is incredibly strong and we’re excited to continue bringing all our events and this amazing sport to as many people in the UK as possible with the BBC.”
Bellator president Scott Coker added, “MMA has never been in a better place in the UK and I’m very proud of the impact we as a promotion have had there.
“We’re excited by our growth in European markets like the UK and to have the continued support of the BBC as we bring the sport to more people than ever.”
Upcoming Bellator events
- Saturday, February 25 – Bellator 291: Amosov vs. Storley 2 – Dublin, Ireland
- Friday, March 10 – Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson – San Jose, California
- Friday, March 31 – Bellator 293: Golm vs. James – Temecula, California
- Friday, April 21 – Bellator 294: Carmouche vs. Bennett 2 – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Saturday, April 22 – Bellator 295: Stots vs. Mix – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Friday, May 12 – Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards – Paris, France
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