Mixed Martial Arts
PFL nets Canal Plus sub-Saharan Africa deal, sells stake to Helios
Multiple competitions under the Professional Fighters League’s banner will be shown with French-language commentary across sub-Saharan Africa next year after a deal was struck with pay-television's Canal Plus.
Setanta Sports lands PFL rights in Eurasia, Philippines
Setanta Sports has signed a multi-year media rights deal to air the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator in Eurasia and the Philippines
Industry return for Willoughby as PFL global partnerships head
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has hired Damian Willoughby, the former City Football Group and EA Sports executive who briefly worked at Chelsea, as its head of global partnerships
TKO builds further UFC-WWE links with new events venture
TKO Live Events Strategy Team to create what is claimed will be one of the strongest live events portfolios in sports and entertainment.
Riyadh Season grows international footprint in multi-faceted UFC alliance
Riyadh Season, the annual Saudi Arabian state-funded festival hosted in the capital, is continuing to branch out beyond its borders, with a new sponsorship deal struck with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
PFL hires WWE veteran Revelo to lead global distribution push
The Professional Fighters League has hired World Wrestling Entertainment executive Emilio Revelo to a senior role overseeing the global distribution of its Bellator brand as well as developing the growth of the company's Hispanic audience.
UFC switches to Starzplay in Mena as UAE ties deepen
Starzplay has secured an exclusive multi-year deal for UFC rights in the Middle East and North Africa, a region in which the mixed martial arts behemoth has cemented its position over recent years
Delayed UFC Saudi debut set for June after improved fight card
UFC will make its Saudi Arabia debut in June, three months later than envisaged after local organisers pushed back on the promotion's original plans to launch with a weak card.
TKO to pay out $335m in UFC antitrust settlements, stock up nearly 8 per cent
Ultimate Fighting Championship parent company TKO Group Holdings has reached an agreement to settle the claims brought against the company in two class action antitrust lawsuits and will pay out $335m…
EXCLUSIVE: Markowski exits DAZN, IMG’s Ridout to head up combat sports
Joe Markowski is leaving his role as chief executive of DAZN in North America with IMG’s Michael Ridout to take on certain duties heading up the broadcaster’s combat sports activities, SportBusiness can reveal.
PFL lands SuperSport ahead of Africa division launch
Professional Fighters League (PFL) events are to be broadcast across sub-Saharan Africa on SuperSport after the pay-television broadcaster signed off on a rights deal
Venum pins down UFC extension until 2029
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has agreed to further extend its sponsorship deal with French sportswear brand Venum.
Globo pins down PFL rights in multi-year renewal
Globo, the Brazilian media giant, is to remain as the exclusive broadcast partner in the country of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), after signing a new multi-year rights deal.
UFC adds Polsat to string of recent rights renewals
Polish commercial and pay-television broadcaster Polsat has extended its exclusive rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in a multi-year deal announced today (Monday)
Joint UFC-WWE revenues hit $1.7bn, net income falls 54 per cent
TKO Group Holdings, the Endeavor-owned public company created by the merger of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has reported revenue for the 2023 financial…
Nova lands PFL rights in Czech Republic, Slovakia
US-based mixed martial arts promotion the Professional Fighters League (PFL) has agreed a new rights deal in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with pay-television broadcaster TV Nova
U-Next adds PFL to MMA line-up
Japanese streaming company U-Next has further bolstered its mixed martial arts portfolio by agreeing a multi-year rights deal with US promotion the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
UFC, WWE agree events deal with Anaheim’s OCVIBE
TKO Group, parent company of UFC and WWE, has agreed what is claimed to be a first-of-its-kind, five-year live events deal with OCVIBE, the $4bn (€3.71bn) sports and entertainment district being developed in Anaheim.