UFC
UFC on Fuel TV events coming in July, September, November
Apr 11, 2012 - 10:30:01 AM

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC returns to Fuel TV on Saturday with their first ever event from Sweden. Following that card, there is an event on the Fox-owned network - home of thousands of hours of UFC programming this year - set for May 15 in Virginia.

Now, we now have a general idea of the next three live events on the network. Fuel TV executive vice president and general manager George Greenberg revealed during a teleconference on Tuesday that Fuel will host live UFC cards in July, September, and November. So far, only September's has a date, with the 4th of that month being tapped for the card.

The UFC has certainly raised the profile of Fuel TV this year, making it the fastest growing network on cable and bringing massive increases in viewership to the station. However, what's been a ratings boon for them has been a decrease in exposure for the UFC for these live events, with Fuel TV available in only around 36 million homes, compared to the near 100 million homes for previous partner Spike TV and their other TV home of FX.

Penick's Analysis: Obviously both Fuel TV and the UFC are hoping to expand the reach of the network with their partnership. That's why that was part of the deal, and it means some growing pains and these fights not being available to the UFC's entire fanbase. When TV contracts come up later this year, they'll have a good argument for cable companies to add the channel, and then they can continue to grow with one another.