Earlier this week ESPN UK confirmed that they are considering an exit strategy which would leave the UFC without a television home in the region.
The network have found themselves in a difficult situation recently after losing out on the rights to broadcast live Barclays Premiere League football which was by far their most popular sporting property, while the company is believed to have experienced significant financial losses during their foray into the UK market.
The UFC signed a one-year extension to their current TV deal with ESPN UK last August, but from the sound of things they will now be attempting to move elsewhere.
As yet there’s no official word from the UFC on the matter, but it is being rumored that Sky Sports could become the new home of the promotion.
UK MMA promotion ‘Cage Warriors’ previously had a deal with the network, but that was recently cancelled and Graham Boylan, the CEO of the organization believes this may have been done to pave the way for the UFC to arrive later in the year.
“You dont need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the next steps as to where the UFC will be come August,” Boylan stated on Twitter.
Sky Sports would bring the UFC to a wider audience in the UK, but many fans fear that the network may look to convert the sport into a pay-per-view commodity for the first time in this market.
