MMA - mixed martial arts - is at an all-time high in terms of popularity, with rival promotions UFC and Bellator MMA cementing as a sport, but also as a spectacle.
The rise of superstars such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ryan Bader has drawn 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.
Promotion MMA Broadcast Networks
| Promotion | Network |
|---|---|
Ultimate Fighting Championship | ESPN, ESPN+, ABC |
Bellator MMA | SHOWTIME, CBS |
Invicta Fight Championships | AXS TV, YouTube, Facebook |
Rizin | FITE TV |
Where to watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Getty ImagesThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the leading Mixed Martial Arts promotion across United States.The organisation delivers a new raft of stars every year, across weight divisions.
Rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the USA are currently exclusive to ESPN+,with some preliminary events occasionally shown on ABC. UFC coverage will also be available via UFC's dedicated UFC Fight Pass app.
Upcoming UFC schedule
| Date | Main Event | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 01/13 | Ankalaev vs Walker 2 | UFC Fight Night |
| 01/20 | Strickland vs Du Plessis | UFC 297 |
| 02/03 | Dolidze vs Imavov | UFC Fight Night |
| 02/10 | Hermansson vs Pyfer | UFC Fight Night |
| 02/17 | Volkanovski vs Topuria | UFC 298 |
Sadly, there is pretty minimal coverage for mixed martial arts on linear broadcast channels. Bellator MMA will be shown in rare instances on CBS, Paramount’s regular broadcast channel but you can't expect consistent coverage.
The most effective way to get consistent MMA coverage is through the streaming service SHOWTIME, which is the home to bellator MMA in the US. Paramount+ have a subscription plan that hosts SHOWTIME for only $11.99/month. So you can get your MMA fix with the click of a button.
Upcoming Bellator schedule
| Date | Main Event | Event |
|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | TBA |
Where to watch Invicta Fight Championships
Invicta fight championships is your all-women’s mixed martial arts organization. It currently has a broadcasting partnership with AXS TV network in the United States. All fights can be streamed via the internet or watched via a cable service with AXS TV in their lineup, like Sling TV.
Where to watch Rizin MMA
Japan has always been at the forefront of martial art development and MMA is no different. If you're a fan of Japanese MMA then look no further than a subscription to FiteTV, who host Rizin promotion.
Best cable and streaming Services for MMA coverage
Getty ImagesESPN+
Best value UFC coverage
ESPN has exclusive broadcasting rights to the UFC in the US, so you'll need an ESPN+ subscription for $9.99/month to access the events. It's a very budget friendly subscription and
comes with extensive sports archives and live coverage across a range of other sports, including international golf and tennis tournaments, soccer, baseball, hockey, boxing, golf, college sports and even some football and basketball games, live.
ESPN+ is also tailored to stream on the go, with an app available to download onto IOS and Android devices so cricket fans can watch every cricket match of the tournament wherever, whenever.
Subscription plans and pricing
| Subscription | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9.99/month |
| Annual | $99.99/year |
| Disney Bundle (comes with Hulu and Disney+) | $12.99/month |
Paramount +
Best value Bellator MMA coverage
A service from CBS, Paramount+ brings you all the sports fixtures featured on the CBS Network, with standard Essential subscription ($5.99/mo). However, SHOWTIME is the home of Bellator MMA in the US, so if you want maximum coverage you'll need the Paramount+ SHOWTIME subscription.
| Subscription | Price |
|---|---|
| Paramount+ Essential | $5.99/month |
| Paramount+SHOWTIME | $11.99/month |
Aside from Bellator MMA, Paramount+ has particularly good coverage of European soccer leagues including the Men’s Champions League and Europa League fixtures. Major events such as The Masters, NFL games and some college basketball are also included. So you'll have plenty of sports entertainment between matches.
The big downside of Paramount + subscription is that it’s an ads-supported streaming service, which can be disruptive to the viewing experience.
Hulu + LiveTV
Best value all in one streaming service for MMA coverage
Hulu + Live TV is the only streaming service on the market that includes the ESPN+ service with subscription. It also has ESPN and CBS in its channel lineup, while SHOWTIME is available as an add-on for an additional $10.99/month.
| Subscription | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Hulu (With Ads) + Live TV, Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) | for $69.99/mo. |
Hulu+Live TV comes with unlimited cloud storage, so you never have to miss the action. It also allows you to stream on up to 2 screens simultaneously and is compatible with plenty of TV systems, including iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV & Fire Stick, Apple TV (4th gen), Chromecast, Xbox One & Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Samsung (select TV models), LG (select TV models), and Nintendo Switch.
DirecTV
Best value satellite service for MMA coverage
DirectTV is a premium service provider, that offers both a satellite and DirecTV stream service for anyone wanting to cable cut. All four DirecTV subscriptions carry ESPN which provides some UFC coverage, and you can watch Bellator MMA through the SHOWTIME add on.
| Subscription | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | $64.99/month |
| Choice | $89.99/month |
| Ultimate | $109.99/month |
| Premier | $154.99/month |
SHOWTIME subscription is $10.99/month at full price, however DirecTV are currently running SHOWTIME subscription at a 50% discount for the first 3 months ($5.50).
As a premium service, subscriptions err toward the expensive side across the board. That said, you'll have plenty of Bellator MMA content and excellent sports and entertainment channels in your line-up if you opt for one of DirectTV’s higher subscriptions.
The variety of regional sports networks available through the DirecTV stream or satellite service is also extensive which makes it a great option if you enjoy watching local sports teams. To find what regional networks will be available in your area, just type in your ZIP code to receive your Local Regional Sports Network Information.
FiteTV
Best for niche MMA promotions
FITE TV holds rights to various MMA promotions including BKFC, Fusion Fight League, CFC and many more. The platform is good value for money, carrying around 4,000+ hours of fight content and a decent backlog of fights in the library for you to delve into between cards.
Subscription plans and pricing
| Subscription | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7.99/month |
| Annual | $69.99/year |
The service also offers a free stream (FITE 24/7) you can tune into at any time. The stream typically focusses on boxing, MMA and wrestling content with live events and clips. If pay per view events are out of your price range and you don’t mind the wait, many fights become available through FITE 30 days post the live show down.
Overall, if you don't mind the dated interface and a stripped back service, it's a worthwhile subscription.
How to watch MMA PPV events via streaming apps
Getty ImagesPay-per-view, or PPV, describes fights in UFC and Bellator MMA that are offered at a premium charge in addition to the standard cost of a streaming provider. While multiple UFC and Bellator MMA bouts are available with a regular subscription, several like the marquee UFC Fight Night bouts will still set you back an extra fee.
Currently, UFC Fight Night bouts can vary in price, though they generally retail around the $74.99 mark. These fights can be purchased through the respective app - ESPN+, SHOWTIME or UFC Fight Pass - in addition to your regular subscription.
FAQS
How can I watch UFC Fight Night online?
UFC Fight Night is exclusively broadcast on ESPN, with events shown online through its streaming channel ESPN+, as well as UFC Fight Pass. UFC Fight Night pay-per-view bouts can be purchased to view through the channel or streaming service as and when.
RELATED: How to watch and live stream UFC Fight Night in 2023
How can I watch Bellator MMA fights for free?
You cannot watch Bellator MMA fights live for free, and can only watch them through SHOWTIME. However, PlutoTV does show previous bouts on replay for free.
Can you watch UFC fights for free?
You cannot watch UFC fights live for free, and can only watch them through ESPN, ESPN+ or UFC Fight Pass. However, UFC’s official YouTube channel streams selected fights from previous events.
Can 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.
The bottom line
Getty ImagesUltimately, the exclusive deals in place with ESPN and SHOWTIME mean that you will need access to both channels and their respective streaming services to likely enjoy maximum coverage of both UFC and Bellator MMA.
However, it does not mean that you have to necessarily settle for one or the other, with plenty of options available over streaming services, cable television, and satellite providers to give you a wide plethora of choices when it comes to finding the right one for you.