According to our sister publication, f4wonline.com (they don’t like us saying that, nor is it true), according to Ariel Helwani, TNT and ONE FC have formed a partnership and will begin broadcasting MMA events in 2019 – because there isn’t enough fighting on TV as it is.
This is what F4W said. I was gonna write something myself but, honestly, this is enough:
The deal is for three years and begins on January 19th, 2019, with 24 shows per year to air on TNT and other Turner owned ‘digital platforms’ including B/R Live which made headlines this year for offering NBA fans the chance to buy single games or even part of a single game. Helwani wrote that “shoulder” programming and a reality show are also in the plans which are expected to be announced in the days ahead.
I hope this means you’ll be able to buy a single PPV fight.
One supposes Matt and I shall discuss this on the next episode of MMA & STUFF. For now, I’ll say that my initial reaction was this was a big deal but upon further reflection, no, it isn’t. It means more free fights on TV, which is good, and more paydays for the fights, which is bad (I like them hungry and thus more likely to fight for my entertainment). That’s about all it means, though. Ain’t no one challenging the UFC, if that’s what you were thinking.
