UFC lands TV deal in Japan

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Monday announced that it has reached an agreement to return to television in Japan. The promotion has signed a new two-year deal with WOWOW.

WOWOW will telecast all UFC pay-per-view events starting with UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben taking place live from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. The UFC 89 live card will begin at 8 p.m. GMT in England and will telecast on WOWOW following a short delay at midnight JST.

"The Japanese market has always been important to the UFC, and we want to bring MMA and all of its biggest stars back to Japan," said Dana White, UFC President. "We are thrilled to be back with WOWOW."

"WOWOW is extremely pleased to announce that UFC is back on WOWOW, starting with the UFC 89 event in Birmingham, UK," said Mr. Kazuyuki Omura, Chief Producer, WOWOW. "The UFC will telecast in High Definition on WOWOW's popular 'Timely-on-Air' format, a limited delay broadcast adjusting the airtime to a time that will be convenient for the sports fans in Japan. After airing over 50 UFC shows from 2001 to 2007, we are excited to once again provide our subscribers with the most prominent mixed martial arts program in the world."