The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and the SONY SIX® channel have confirmed a wide-ranging, strategic partnership which brings the fastest growing sport in history to India.
SIX is the destination for all UFC programming in India, from live events featuring the biggest names in the sport to athlete profile shows including the seminal Countdown and Primetime. SIX will also feature the greatest fights in the UFC’s 19-year history with UFC Unleashed.
UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said: “We are very excited to partner with SIX as the UFC expands into India. We look forward to working with them to not only further expand the UFC’s fanbase here, but also to find and develop local talent and, ultimately, bringregular live events to India.”
Man Jit Singh, CEO Multi Screen Media, the parent company of SIX, said “We are delighted to bring the UFC – the fastest growing sport in the world – to India. India has a lot of appetite for new sports and we are confident that younger audiences will be attracted to the special programming of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the channel. Mixed martial arts require tremendous physical training, skill and strategy and India certainly has a lot of aptitude for the sport. We hope the property will be an inspiration to young India.”
A cornerstone of the new partnership will be the production of an all-Indian edition of the Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s long-running reality TV show where 16 of the most talented unsigned martial artists compete for a contract with the UFC. Previous TUF winners have gone on to win UFC world champions and become international superstars. Fertita said SIX’s commitment to the series was crucial for the UFC in the market.TUF India will help to introduce the sport in India, to showcase the hard work, dedication, athleticism and skills needed to compete in the UFC.
Casting for TUF India begins shortly and is scheduled for broadcast in 2013. Interested fighters should apply to the UFC directly through their website: http://www.ufc.com/TUF-India.
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