HDNet’s popularity with hardcore MMA fans has a lot to do with their dedication to airing overseas events from the Land of the Rising Sun and beyond. This new year’s eve will be no different, as the network plans to bring “DREAM: Fight for Japan: Genkidesuka!! Oomisoka!! 2011″ to the masses (for those who are lucky enough to have this in their sports package).
Beginning at 1 a.m. EST on Saturday, December 31, HDNet will crank up this Japanese smorgasbord of MMA action and continue forward for nine continuous hours. Headlining …

Showtime Networks Inc. and world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE® have entered into a new broadcast agreement to continue producing live MMA events on the premium television network, SHOWTIME. The agreement was announced jointly today by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports®, Dana White, UFC® President, and Scott Coker, STRIKEFORCE CEO.
Under the new agreement, SHOWTIME will produce and televise up to eight live events. STRIKEFORCE athletes such as lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, …

After a historic fifth season that saw Michael Chandler capture the Bellator Lightweight Title in a four-round classic that many critics labeled fight-of-the-year, and Eduardo Dantas, Douglas Lima and Alexander Shlemenko all earning tournament championships, Bellator will open their sixth season on Friday, March 2nd from a soon to be announced location. The premiere will mark the first time Bellator has aired on Friday nights.
“Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” …

If you were wondering whether the UFC 140 prelim fights would be aired, you’re in luck. Heavy.com reports that Ion TV will once again carry the under card prior to the pay-per-view portion of the evening. Although many prelim specials have been broadcast by Spike TV, Ion has carried these duties before and the HD quality was superb by all accounts.
Ion’s a smaller channel that not many may know of, but is often found by a focused browse through one’s listings. Expect Ion and FOX to air more of the …

Spike TV heads across the pond to the LG Arena in Birmingham, England for UFC 138 headlined by a battle between two of the sport’s top middleweights, Chris Leben (26-7) and Mark Munoz (11-2), on Saturday, November 5 (8 p.m.-11 p.m. midnight ET/PT- same day tape).  This main event between Leben and Munoz will be the UFC’s first five-round non-title fight.
A standout performer on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter®, Leben has emerged as one of the UFC’s most recognizable and charismatic fighters.  “The Crippler,” a native of Oregon …