Bellator MMA has reached a partnership with BBC Sport to air events this year.
BBC Sport will broadcast Bellator fights from outside America live on the newly-launched BBC Three channel and BBC iPlayer.
As part of the deal, Bellator cards will air live across all platforms in 2022. That includes news, features and results on the BBC Sport’s digital platforms.
“I’m so excited by the continued growth of MMA in the UK and delighted that we’ll continue to enjoy the support of the BBC by bringing our events live to existing British fans and new audiences in 2022,” said Scott Coker, Bellator President.
The BBC Three tie-up will kick off in style with a triple-header of exciting European cards, starting with Bellator’s highly anticipated return to Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday, February 25. The card features a middleweight title fight between MMA legend Gegard Mousasi and the undefeated Austin Vanderford.
Following Dublin is another huge night in Paris on Friday, May 6, as Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader defends his title against iconic French mixed martial artist Cheick Kongo.
The promotion made history in the capital in 2020 by becoming the first major MMA promotion to hold an event in France, which was also the first time an MMA event was shown live on the BBC.
“We’re thrilled to be renewing our relationship with the BBC and to be on BBC Three,” said David Green, head of Bellator MMA Europe. “We’ve enjoyed an incredibly successful first year partnered with the broadcaster and we’re looking forward to reaching millions more UK homes as part of an exciting new channel. We’ve worked incredibly hard to bring live action from this amazing sport to as many people in the UK as possible, and this is yet another landmark step on that journey.”
Rounding out the first three massive European events live on BBC Three will be Bellator’s return to London on Friday, May 13, with another world title fight topping the bill. After an electric London show in October, the UK’s Michael “Venom” Page takes on the undefeated welterweight champion, Yaroslav Amosov, as he aims to become just the second British Bellator champion.