Bellator MMA announces landmark deal with DAZN

In its brief history, Bellator has turned into a true, competitive alternative to the UFC. Luckily, the past two years have been very profitable for President Scott Coker’s promotion. As a result, DAZN, the future of streaming, has taken notice, and decided to add Bellator into their family.

In a press conference today at Viacom headquarters in Times Square, it was announced that the two entities have agreed to a nine-figure distribution deal. The deal starts with an unnamed event on September 29 in San Jose, California. Seven fight card per year on DAZN will be included, with one a week for newly signed Matchroom Boxing and Bellator, and 15 that will be simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN.

A set price on the deal has not been announced. It is figured to be around Matchroom’s $1 billion deal.

In a press release, Scott Coker discussed the importance of the deal with DAZN, stating:

“The exciting new partnership with DAZN is a game-changer for Bellator. The investment will enable us to continue expanding our roster with free agents that make sense, so we can put on PPV-worthy fight cards that fans want to see. Plus, on DAZN’s worldwide platform, our fights will be seen live for the first time to new audiences around the globe.”   

This will hopefully eliminate the issue Bellator runs into regarding tape delays. The seven fights will be live, according to Coker. Now in the U.S. market, DAZN, a U.K.-based organization working under the Perform Group, has grown exponentially. They are already in places like Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with Italy to follow after America. In addition, DAZN CEO James Rushton promised the partnership to be game-changing for both companies.

With talent, young and old, signing with Bellator, an idea for growth was necessary in the eyes of Coker. With an influx in talent, and, hopefully with DAZN, an influx in revenue, Bellator’s rise is slowly but surely coming to fruition. Will American MMA fans be interested in another streaming service however? Only time will tell on that one.

The scheduled main event for the September 29 event will be Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi defending his title against current Welterweight Champion Rory MacDonald. Other fights on the card feature the fourth bout in the Wanderlei Silva v. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson series and the start of the Welterweight Grand Prix. The event will air exclusively on DAZN.