Al Iaquinta closed out the UFC on FOX era in style last night (Sat., Dec. 15, 2018) at UFC on FOX 31 from inside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he outlasted Kevin Lee in a five-round slug fest to capture a crucial unanimous decision win.
The main event officially marked the end of UFC’s partnership with FOX. The two companies have been intertwined since 2011, with a heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos serving as the first UFC event on the big FOX network. Since then, 30 additional events on FOX have helped produce 104 memorable knockouts, 64 submission wins, 10 title fights, and 20 main events involving past, present, or future UFC champions.
Thanks to the @UFC for 7 incredible years! ?@UFCONFOX? pic.twitter.com/85qjXObT72
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) December 16, 2018
While those numbers sound good, last night’s card in Milwaukee was the final stop for UFC on FOX. The renowned mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion will be moving over to ESPN in 2019 after striking a massive $1.5 billion deal earlier this year. It’s a switch in networks that could very well bring UFC to the next level here in the United States.
Considering UFC wouldn’t be where it is today without its exclusive seven-year deal with FOX, some of the biggest fighters in the promotion helped pay tribute to the UFC on FOX era. That video can be seen at the top of the page courtesy of UFC.
In addition, UFC president Dana White took some time after last night’s main event in Milwaukee to discuss the promotion’s tenure with FOX:
While FOX tried to stay in the mix with a less than desirable offer to retain UFC heading into 2019, the partnership is now officially over. Luckily for the FOX network, they’re in line to pick up WWE’s SmackDown Live late next year.
As for UFC, let the ESPN era begin!
For complete UFC Milwaukee results and coverage click here.