UFC fans in the United Kingdom may have a lot to look forward to in 2012, and even more as time goes on.
UFC’s current television deal in the U.K., which is with ESPN, expires in August. According to reports, the company may be landing on a different network in the country, which could lead to more live events in the region.
As things stand now, the U.K. is guaranteed only one event in 2012. Depending on how things end up with television negotiations in the country, the U.K. may land a second live event in 2012.
“The thing that’s happening in the U.K. is that our ESPN rights expire in August, so we’re in deep negotiations with television networks, and depending on where those go, there might be a real interest in the new partner to say, ‘Bring another event,'” said the UFC’s managing director of international development Marshall Zelaznik, who recently relocated from the U.K. to the UFC’s Las Vegas headquarters. “We’re committed to making that mark bigger and bigger (in the U.K.).”
