The UFC has renewed its partnership with Russia’s Match TV, continuing one of its long-standing European media deals. The announcement, made in late December, confirmed that Match TV will exclusively broadcast 40 UFC events annually, along with promotional content and original programming such as UFC Countdown and UFC Connected.
UFC and Match TV
The UFC first teamed up with Match TV in 2022, making this renewal significant, as it is one of the few media arrangements between a Russian outlet and a Western-based sports organization to remain intact following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The deal highlights the UFC’s sustained presence in the Russian market, supported by the country’s strong following of MMA and the presence of notable Russian UFC fighters, including current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.