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Press Release – Newport Beach, Cali. (July 31, 2012) — Already airing in over 80 countries worldwide, Bellator Fighting Championships continues to expand its reach as the promotion has partnered with Russian broadcasting giant Russia 2, for the largest MMA broadcast alliance in Russian history. Beginning September 28th, Bellator will be aired exclusively on Russia 2 throughout the country, introducing over 83 million Russian sports fans to the largest tournament based MMA promotion in the world.
“Over the last year, as the Bellator brand has experienced enormous growth and our talent team has signed the greatest Russian Mixed Martial Artists in the world, the timing was perfect to align Bellator with Russia’s leading sports network.” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “R2 carries the world’s greatest sports to Russian viewers. So, aligning Bellator with this industry giant is another very exciting step forward in the evolution of the Bellator brand worldwide.”
With headquarters in Moscow, Russia 2 reaches an audience of over 83 million viewers, and offers a wide range of programing that includes the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, EPL and UEFA Champions League Soccer, Formula One Class racing, KHL hockey, and now Bellator Fighting Championships. Additionally, Bellator will air on R2’s new Fight Club Channel, which will offer Russian subscribers the very best in combat sports on a daily basis.
“Bellator is the world’s leading Tournament based MMA organization, featuring the greatest Russian MMA fighters,” said Grigory Kovbasyuk, Executive Producer of R2. “R2 leads the way in Russian sports broadcasts with the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, Formula 1 Racing and many other top sports. We are very excited to have partnered with Bellator to bring MMA’s most exciting competition to over 83 Million Russian sports fans.”
Known as one of the most dangerous technical strikers in the sport, Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko headlines an impressive list of Russian born fighters currently under the Bellator banner. Additionally, elite Russian fighters such as Andrey Koreshkov, Vitaly Minakov, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, and undefeated lightweight Alexander Sarnavskiy will all be looking to make big impressions inside the Bellator cage in 2012 and 2013.
“It’s an absolute honor to now have Bellator airing in my home country of Russia,” Shlemenko said. “I take a lot of pride in my family and friends being able to watch my fights, and now everyone will be able to with this incredible partnership.”
Fremantle Entertainment, Bellator’s exclusive worldwide content distribution partner, who has now secured strategic television alliances for Bellator in over 80 countries around the globe, will be orchestrating all aspects of the R2/Bellator alliance.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
About Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Bellator, Latin for Warrior, is partnered with entertainment industry leaders Viacom and Fremantle Entertainment, and is the world’s leading tournament-based mixed martial arts organization. Bellator’s Founder, Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes. Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.
About Russia 2
Russia 2 is a nationwide TV channel that is dedicated to the world of sport. It was launched on 12 July 2003 under the name Sport before it was rebranded Russia 2 in January 2010. Since the launch it has acquired an audience of over 83 million viewers. It broadcasts live coverage of the main Russian and global sporting events to millions of Russian homes.
About MTV2
Available in approximately 80 million homes MTV2 is man’s best friend. Since its launch in 1996, the network has reflected the subversive interests and behaviors of young men with a compelling and diverse programming line-up inspired by ordinary guys who do extraordinary things. MTV2 is part of Viacom Media Networks, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. For more information, go to www.mtvpress.com or follow us on Twitter @MTVPress.