Bellator’s U.K. television deal has expanded, and starting with Bellator 275 later this month, the promotion’s European based events will air on BBC Three.
Promotion officials announced the deal on Friday. Bellator 275, which takes place on February 25, 2022, is set to take place in Dublin, Ireland. Gegard Mousasi puts his middleweight title on the line against Austin Vanderford in the main event.
Previously, Bellator events aired on the BBC iPlayer streaming service in the U.K. That will continue to be the case for U.S. based shows, due to the time difference and BBC Three’s broadcast hours.
At one point, BBC Three had shifted to an online format, prompting an outcry from viewers. It returned to broadcast television on February 1, 2022 following test broadcasts in January.
“We’re thrilled to be renewing our relationship with the BBC and to be on BBC Three. We’ve enjoyed an incredibly successful first year partnered with the broadcaster and we’re looking forward to reaching millions more UK homes as part of an exciting new channel,” head of Bellator Europe David Green was quoted as saying in a press release on Friday. “We’ve worked incredibly hard to bring live action from this amazing sport to as many people in the UK as possible, and this is yet another landmark step on that journey.”
Next up for the promotion is Bellator 274, which features Logan Storley and Neiman Gracie in a welterweight main event. That card will take place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
