Versus, home of the WEC since June 2007, will begin carrying live UFC events in 2010 as part of a renewal agreement with Zuffa that will bring a total of seven WEC and two UFC events live to cable sports network next year, according to VERSUS.com.
Spike TV had previously been the exclusive cable channel for the UFC and the first UFC on Versus event will be the first time the UFC has aired an event live outside of Spike TV since the two partnered for The Ultimate Fighter in 2005.
Details of the first UFC event on Versus are to be announced.
The new agreement, which will also allow Versus digital media rights to stream preliminary WEC fights on VERSUS.com, can essentially put to rest rumors of Zuffa folding the WEC and sending its fighters to the UFC at least for the near future.
Versus is probably my favorite television channel already. This news is just awesome. I started watching Versus once they started showing WEC events. I have been hooked ever since I started watching the channel. They have a lot of cool stuff already. This will just make it even better.
What if they are folding at least some of the WEC weight classes into the UFC and just using the two UFC shows on Versus to show the old WEC weight classes? Hmmmm....
Smart way to bring more attention to the lighter weight classes, imo.
MannyMtl - Versus is not available in Montreal... Great
Dude, just get DirecTV. Then you can watch Versus in HD.... Oh wait, DirecTV got rid of Versus and won't let me out of my contract with paying them over $400
NDmmafan - Why would UFC even want to do this? STUPID STUPID STUPID!
People want free MMA this is it.
They have a great releationship with Spike TV which is also free. So lets take away events from Spike and put them on a competitors channel. A competitors channel that isnt on in as many places. Sounds like a great move to me.
my guess is during renewal negotiations VS asked for the content to help boost their network. they've seen what the UFC has done for SpikeTV, which was a nearly-cancelled network if not for the success of TUF. i dont see the UFC asking for broadcast time on VS when theyve got such a dominant position on Spike.
In Canada, Versus retained it's old/former name of OLN (outdoor Life Network)... I'm not sure if it will show the fights, however I think more Canadians get the channel (sort of) than realize it.