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Earlier today (Monday, March 18, 2019), it was revealed that ESPN would now be the only pay-per-view (PPV) service provider (via ESPN +) for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States. -United. Get all the details here.
While many fighting fans will naturally be a little hesitant to accept the changes, UFC President Dana White said that everything was for the better and that everyone would benefit. After all, ESPN turned out to be a determined partner right from the jump.
"So from the first day, these guys were incredible partners. We are very aligned with them in that I believe in everything they do and in the direction they follow with the network. It's the same direction we go in. I say it all the time, in life, everything is a matter of timing, and the timing could not be better for us to be with ESPN, "White said in an exclusive chat with Megan. Olivi "So these guys came in, kicked the tires, looked under the hood and they liked what they saw. Now we will accompany them for everything. The pay-per-view (PPV) will accompany them, the fights we are doing on ESPN + and ESPN linear, "he explained.
"It's an exclusive agreement, we are exclusively with ESPN. When we were with everyone, we could not even offer discounts on pay-per-view and things like that. You must obtain the approval of all these groups. Now, it's a one-stop shop. ESPN will be able to group; ESPN + plus pay-per-views. Everything has not been determined yet, but it's amazing for UFC fans, "he added.
"They'll be able to get a lot more value out of the fights, whether it's ESPN + or pay-per-game with everything on ESPN. We did that because it's good for everyone and for us, the fighters, and absolutely amazing for the fans. And people will get nervous with this streaming stuff, but I hate breaking it, streaming is where everything goes. "
And remember, the UFC still has Fight Pbad, which, according to White, will get a lot of fresh content in the coming years. He also dropped a nice nugget revealing that the contract with ESPN had been postponed to seven years, as well as his own contract with UFC.
"So, between us and ESPN, there's never been a better time to be a fan. We had a five-year contract with them. We now have a seven-year contract. And Ari Emanuel and I have just signed a new seven-year contract. So we've been here for seven years and ESPN has been here for seven years. The incredible things we're going to work on, I can not even tell you how much I'm pumped for all that. "
Still, there was a time when UFC on ESPN was only a dream. Now, says White, "the world sports leader" can not have enough CFUs.
"It could not have been better. Everything worked perfectly and for a company that did not cover us years ago, they love us so much that it's great. For someone like me, who is here since the first day, all this is surreal. But that's what we've always dreamed of. We do what I always thought I could do and what I hoped to do one day. It's everything that I and UFC have always dreamed of. And every fighter, "he concluded.
The deal will start with UFC 236, which is due to drop in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 13, 2019, with a double-title in the championship as Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier compete for the Interim Lightweight title, while Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya collide for the Middleweight middle strap.
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