MMA - mixed martial arts - is at an all-time high in terms of popularity, as the global combat sports phenomenon continues to grow through rival promotions UFC and Bellator MMA, helping to cement it as one of the biggest attractions on the planet.
With the rise of superstars such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Ryan Bader drawing even more eyeballs to UFC and MMA fights, there’s no shortage of drag-down knuckle-busting action to catch across the two organizations and their impressive roster of talent.
But where can you watch UFC and Bellator MMA, on television and streaming? Allow GOAL to strap on the gloves and step into the octagon to give you the lowdown on how to get your mixed martial arts fix, and what suits your viewing preferences.
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🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on ESPN+
What is UFC and Bellator MMA?
Getty ImagesUFC - short for Ultimate Fighting Championship - and Bellator MMA - formerly known as Bellator Fighting Championships - are the two leading promotions for mixed martial arts in North America and among the largest in the world.
Both organizations deliver a slate of events every year over multiple weight divisions, offering a variety of titles, akin to boxing promotions. Bouts take place typically over three or five rounds, in line with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
Ultimately, both promotions offer few differences and deliver on a year-round basis. If you want to watch both UFC and Bellator MMA, however, you will have to navigate a pair of television deals that can make it as tricky as a takedown inside the cage.
🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on ESPN+
Both UFC and Bellator MMA have exclusive broadcast deals with cable television channels, with ESPN home to the former and SHOWTIME home to the latter, in part thanks to Paramount’s outright ownership of the promotion.
UFC | Bellator MMA | |
ESPN | ☑ | |
ESPN+ | ☑ | |
ABC | ☑ | |
SHOWTIME | ☑ | |
CBS | ☑ |
Further UFC content is available through ESPN+, the channel’s streaming service, with occasional preliminary events shown on ABC. Bellator MMA meanwhile may be shown on rare instances on CBS, Paramount’s regular broadcast channel.
🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on ESPN+
Unlike other sports, there is pretty minimal coverage for mixed martial arts on linear broadcast channels, meaning that streaming services, cable television and satellite providers are your best bet to catch all the octagon action.
How to watch UFC and Bellator MMA via streaming services
Getty ImagesOne of the easiest ways to be covered for your UFC and Bellator MMA needs will be to catch both through a streaming service. The former’s ESPN home is typically included in a number of streaming packages from providers, though SHOWTIME will likely have to be purchased as an add-on.
There are multiple streaming service providers to choose from, dependent on what you want from your subscription. Alternatively, If you are looking specifically just for mixed martial arts content, then you could directly purchase an app subscription without having to sign up to a wider provider.
Each option comes with its pros and cons. Want to combine your love for both UFC and Bellator MMA with nothing else? A joint subscription to UFC Fight Pass and SHOWTIME might be your best bet. Want a wider range of sports? A broader provider such as DAZN or fuboTV could be your answer, with a SHOWTIME add-on.
Best streaming services to watch UFC and Bellator MMA
DAZN - $24.99 per month
DirecTV Stream - $64.99–$154.99 per month
fuboTV - $74.99–$94.99 per month
Hulu + Live TV - $69.99–$82.99 per month
Sling TV - $40.00–$55.00 per month
YouTube TV - $72.99 per month
Best streaming apps to watch UFC and Bellator MMA
ESPN+ (UFC) - $9.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.
Pluto TV (Bellator MMA)- Free
SHOWTIME (Bellator MMA) - $10.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.
UFC Fight Pass (UFC) - $9.99/mo. or $95.99/yr.
What are the pros and cons of streaming services?
Streaming services allow customers to cut through the tangle of wires and set-up required with cable television and satellite providers, as long as they have a stable internet connection. In addition, an easy-to-access interface will make life simpler when it comes to picking up your bouts.
That said, some larger services come with prohibitive costs, despite the breadth and depth of available content, while most major providers will still require the addition of SHOWTIME in order to complete full coverage of marquee fights.
How to watch UFC and Bellator MMA via cable and satellite TV providers
Getty ImagesIf streaming services are not your cup of coffee, it is also simple enough to watch UFC and Bellator MMA through cable television and satellite providers. Both ESPN and SHOWTIME are available through a number of packages available both on cable and satellite.
There are multiple cable and satellite providers to choose from, and several price tiers within those options that will allow access to either ESPN, SHOWTIME or both as part and parcel of your package.
As with streaming, each option comes with its pros and cons. Some cable options will provide you with a broader selection of wider sporting options through ESPN and Fox Sports, while some satellite options may not deliver the all-inclusive coverage you hope for, such as lacking SHOWTIME. It is important to ensure you get the right package for your needs.
Best cable providers to watch UFC and Bellator MMA
Cox - $56.00–$139.00 per month
Optimum - $35.00–$115.00 per month
Spectrum - $59.99 per month
Xfinity - $20.00–$80.00 per month
Best satellite providers to watch UFC and Bellator MMA
- DIRECTV - $64.99–$154.99 per monthDIRECTV
DISH - $79.99–$109.99 per month
What are the pros and cons of cable and satellite TVs?
Cable television and satellite providers give customers a broad variety of options for which to not just watch UFC and Bellator MMA but a wider variety of sports, film, news and entertainment, providing wide coverage to touch every base in your broadcast needs.
🖥️ Watch and live stream the UFC on ESPN+
As with streaming however, costs can be prohibitive despite the plethora of choice available. Dependent on your viewing preferences, there may be more cost-efficient ways to keep on top of your mixed martial arts passions.
How to watch UFC and Bellator MMA via streaming apps (pay-per-view)
Getty ImagesPay-per-view, or PPV, describes fights in UFC and Bellator MMA that are offered at a premium charge in addition to the standard cost of a streaming provider. While multiple UFC and Bellator MMA bouts are available with a regular subscription, several like the marquee UFC Fight Night bouts will still set you back an extra fee.
Currently, UFC Fight Night bouts can vary in price, though they generally retail around the $74.99 mark. These fights can be purchased through the respective app - ESPN+, SHOWTIME or UFC Fight Pass - in addition to your regular subscription.
Best streaming apps to watch UFC and Bellator MMA
ESPN+ (UFC) - $9.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.
SHOWTIME (Bellator MMA) - $10.99/mo. or $99.99/yr.
UFC Fight Pass (UFC) - $9.99/mo. or $95.99/yr.
RELATED: The best streaming services for sports fans in 2023
FAQS
How can I watch UFC Fight Night online?
UFC Fight Night is exclusively broadcast on ESPN, with events shown online through its streaming channel ESPN+, as well as UFC Fight Pass. UFC Fight Night pay-per-view bouts can be purchased to view through the channel or streaming service as and when.
Watch UFC with ESPN+ here
How can I watch Bellator MMA fights for free?
You cannot watch Bellator MMA fights live for free, and can only watch them through SHOWTIME. However, PlutoTV does show previous bouts on replay for free.
Can you watch UFC fights for free?
You cannot watch UFC fights live for free, and can only watch them through ESPN, ESPN+ or UFC Fight Pass. However, UFC’s official YouTube channel streams selected fights from previous events.
Can you watch the fight again if you buy the ppv?
In certain circumstances, you will be able to replay a UFC pay-per-view event through the device you originally viewed it on for a limited time only.
Do I need a VPN to watch UFC fights?
You do not need a VPN to watch UFC fights; however, you may be able to use one in order to locate UFC fights or Bellator MMA bouts that are not being broadcast locally in the United States.
For more information, consider GOAL’s guide to what VPN services may best suit your needs.
The bottom line
Getty ImagesUltimately, the exclusive deals in place with ESPN and SHOWTIME mean that you will need access to both channels and their respective streaming services to likely enjoy maximum coverage of both UFC and Bellator MMA.
However, it does not mean that you have to necessarily settle for one or the other, with plenty of options available over streaming services, cable television, and satellite providers to give you a wide plethora of choices when it comes to finding the right one for you.