UFC on Setanta

Irish fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship can now see the best UFC action on Setanta Ireland.

In the coming months, a regular and newly created programme – UFC: Main Event - will showcase the featured attraction bouts from some of the UFC’s biggest upcoming cards, plus the most exciting undercard fights.

To kick off the series, Setanta Ireland will broadcast UFC 102: Main Event featuring the instant classic between Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on Wednesday September 16th, 2009 at 11pm.

In addition to UFC: Main Event, Setanta Ireland will also show UFC’s groundbreaking reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter at 11pm on Sunday nights, beginning on September 20th.

The most successful series of its kind, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) sees reality television collide with combat sport as 16 of the best unsigned mixed martial arts fighters in the world live together, train together and ultimately fight each other for the prize of a six-figure contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

UFC UK Division President Marshall Zelaznik said: “This is a huge step for the UFC in Ireland. We are delighted to, once again, partner with Setanta Sports Ireland. We know we are going to continue to create a whole new generation of UFC fans in Ireland.”

UFC: Main Event

The regular one-hour UFC: Main Event shows will air on Setanta Ireland on Wednesday nights.

Upcoming editions of UFC: Main Event will showcase action from some of the biggest upcoming events and feature elite level talents like Rich Franklin, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, UFC Heavyweight king Brock Lesnar, as well as British superstars ‘The Outlaw’ Dan Hardy and Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping.

The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights

Beginning Sunday, September 20th on Setanta Ireland and screened every Sunday night at 11pm, The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights will showcase two teams of eight of the biggest and best up-and-coming heavyweights in all of mixed martial arts competing for the ultimate prize: a contract with the UFC.

Coaching the two heavyweight teams will be bitter rivals and former UFC champions Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Rashad Evans, who are both every bit as motivated to win the competition as the 16 hopefuls themselves.

In literally the biggest ever series of the Ultimate Fighter, this year’s contestants range from former NFL players turned fighters to some of the largest cult names in mixed martial arts. Plus, urban-fighting legend Kimbo Slice storms into the UFC determined to prove his big punching ‘street-certified’ style is for real. 

Zelaznik said: “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is the most exciting series yet. The dynamic between coaches Rampage and Rashad is something we’ve not seen in a long time. These guys can’t stand each other and want their guys to win at all costs. Plus, we have some gigantic men as well as gigantic talents looking to fight their way to stardom.”

For more information on UFC: Main Event and The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, go to UK.UFC.com.