Sports Business Daily and Heavy MMA are reporting that Fox Network has or is very close to inking a multi-year broadcast deal with the UFC which includes airing about 4 UFC events per year and make Fox the new home of The Ultimate Fighter reality competition series. The deal which has not been confirmed by Dana White or any reps at Zuffa (but has been allegedly leaked anonymously by someone at Fox) is said to be negotiated at or up to 90 million dollars.
White addressed the rumored deal at the UFC 136 press conference by saying: “I didn’t comment when The Wall Street Journal said we bought G4 either. When you’re in these negotiations, rumors start flying and everything else.”
Both the UFC’s contracts with Spike and Versus Networks expire at the end of this year and neither Network is expected to renew deals with the UFC.