MMA - mixed martial arts - is at an all-time high in terms of popularity, as the global combat sports phenomenon continues to grow through rival promotions UFC and Bellator MMA, helping to cement it as one of the biggest attractions on the planet.
With the rise of superstars such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ryan Bader drawing even more eyeballs to UFC and MMA fights, there’s no shortage of drag-down knuckle-busting action to catch across the two organizations and their impressive roster of talent.
But where can you watch UFC and Bellator MMA, on television and streaming? Allow GOAL to strap on the gloves and step into the octagon to give you the lowdown on how to get your mixed martial arts fix, and what suits your viewing preferences.
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🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on TNT Sports
What is UFC and Bellator MMA?
Getty ImagesUFC - short for Ultimate Fighting Championship - and Bellator MMA - formerly known as Bellator Fighting Championships - are the two leading promotions for mixed martial arts in North America and among the largest in the world.
Both organizations deliver a slate of events every year over multiple weight divisions, offering a variety of titles, akin to boxing promotions. Bouts take place typically over three or five rounds, in line with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
Ultimately, both promotions offer few differences and deliver on a year-round basis. If you want to watch both UFC and Bellator MMA, however, you will have to navigate a pair of television deals that can make it as tricky as a takedown inside the cage.
Both UFC and Bellator MMA have exclusive broadcast deals with cable television channels, with TNT Sports home to the former and BBC home to the latter. Further UFC content is available through UFC Fight Pass.
UFC | Bellator MMA | |
TNT Sports | ☑ | |
BBC | ☑ |
🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on ESPN+
Unlike other sports, there is pretty minimal coverage for mixed martial arts on linear broadcast channels, meaning that streaming services, cable television and satellite providers are your best bet to catch all the octagon action.
How to watch UFC and Bellator MMA via streaming services
Getty ImagesBoth TNT Sports and BBC have streaming service availability which means you can catch the latest UFC and MMA action through streaming devices, as well as on the go on tablet and mobile.
TNT Sports streaming can be found through their dedicated app which can be found on the App and Google Play Stores. BBC, meanwhile, have the BBC iPlayer app which can also be found through the same avenues.
How to watch UFC and Bellator MMA PPVs
Getty ImagesPay-per-view, or PPV, describes fights in UFC and Bellator MMA that usually come at a premium charge in addition to the standard cost of a broadcaster or streaming provider.
In the case of TNT Sports and BBC, however, this is not necessarily true.
TNT Sports and BBC offer UFC and MMA PPVs as part of their normal service. TNT Sports will, on occasion however, put particularly high profile PPV events behind a paywall. You can purchase these events through TNT Box Office.
FAQS
How can I watch UFC Fight Night?
UFC Fight Night is exclusively broadcast on TNT Sports, as well as UFC Fight Pass.
🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on TNT Sports
How can I watch Bellator MMA fights for free?
Bellator MMA is available in the UK on BBC free of charge..
Can you watch UFC fights for free?
You cannot watch UFC fights live for free. TNT Sports will, however, usually put fight highlights up in the days after the event on their YouTube channel.
Getty ImagesCan you watch the fight again if you buy the PPV?
In certain circumstances, you will be able to replay a UFC pay-per-view event through the device you originally viewed it on for a limited time only.
Do I need a VPN to watch UFC fights?
You do not need a VPN to watch UFC fights; however, you may be able to use one in order to locate UFC fights or Bellator MMA bouts that are not being broadcast locally in the United States.
For more information, consider GOAL’s guide to what VPN services may best suit your needs.