UFC Renews Deal with BT Sport for Broadcast Rights in Ireland, U.K.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has renewed its broadcasting deal with BT Sport.

The deal, which according to a report from The Sun expires at the end of 2018, allows the channel to televise and stream every live UFC event to audiences in Ireland and the United Kingdom. According to a release, BT Sport will show approximately 150 hours of live UFC content per year.

The UFC first partnered with BT Sport in 2013, but that initial deal was to expire at the end of this month.

“There is no doubt that initial partnership with BT Sport placed UFC and the sport of MMA in front of an engaged audience, and helped to grow the sport in the UK and Ireland,” James Elliot, general manager and vice president UFC Europe, Middle East and Africa, said in a release. “This renewal is a signal from both organizations that there is clearly more to come and that BT Sport provides the perfect platform on which to continue to grow the sport of MMA and the UFC. The potential growth for both organizations is huge and we are delighted to be continuing our partnership and building something special.”

Exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, but The Sun reports that BT Sport made “a significant financial commitment” to keep the rights to the UFC through 2018. In addition to all main card bouts, the station is will now show preliminary contests live, as well. BT Sport will also increase promotion of UFC events while broadcasting all UFC-produced television programming and new UFC/EMEA-produced programming.

“UFC were one of the first partners that we announced back in 2013 when we launched BT Sport. Simon Green, head of BT Sport said. “Since then we have both come a long way and I’m very happy to announce today that we will continue to grow the sport with even more exclusive UFC action live on BT Sport.”

The new deal will officially take effect on Aug. 1.