The Bellator has announced that it’s set to spread it’s wings in 2016 with it’s first ever overseas events in the UK, Israel and Italy.
Previously the organization has stuck to home turf in the U.S with the occasional step across the border to Canada, but there international expansion plans will open up some exciting opportunities in the coming year.
For instance, the main card of the event at the O2 Arena in London, England is set to air live on terrestrial TV there via Channel 5 with the prelims also being broadcast via Spike TV UK.
The UFC previously aired the main event of Fight Night 37: Gustafsson Vs Manuwa live on Channel 5 a couple of years ago, drawing 591,000 viewers, but this will be Bellator’s first appearance on the network.
So far there’s no broadcast plans announced for the Italian event, though the UFC will no doubt be looking on enviously as UFC boss Lorenzo Fertitta in particular has previously indicated a strong desire to hold a show there.
As for Israel, Bellator will air the event via Ego Total in that region, a channel owned by the promotion’s owners Viacom.
So far there’s no details on when these events will take place or who might feature on the cards, though you’d have to imagine that Bellator’s English light-heavyweight champion Liam McGeary will feature prominently on the London card.
