ESPN buys UFC broadcasting rights for more than 5 billion reais

For eight years, FoxSports was Ultimate's partner. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook UFC

In the year that the UFC celebrates 25 years of creation, Ultimate announces another new feature. The ESPN channel purchased the rights to broadcast the events in the United States until 2024. The initial channel broadcasts in 2019. The transaction reached a value of 1,5 billion dollars, which is equivalent to 5,5 billion reais.

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ESPN will broadcast 30 'Fight Night' events, 10 of them on television and the other 20 via streaming. In 2019, it will show the preliminary cards of 12 pay-per-view events.

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At the beginning of May, the UFC and ESPN had already announced an agreement to broadcast some events and the program on UFC President Dana White, Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series' over the internet on ESPN+.

ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro stated that due to its structure it will be the “perfect home” for the UFC. “UFC fans are passionate and loyal. We plan to deliver the full power of our live coverage, our powerful storytelling and unmatched distribution, to serve you in an unprecedented way,” he said.

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For eight years, FoxSports was Ultimate's partner. The channel invested in purchasing WWE events, which may have helped lead to the UFC's departure.