Irish commercial broadcaster TV3 has agreed a rights deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts series.
TV3’s free-to-air 3e channel will incorporate various UFC fights as part of its 2014 autumn schedule.
The announcement comes after UFC Fight Night Dublin drew 600,000 viewers to 3e last month as local fighter Conor McGregor secured a first-round win over Brazil’s Diego Brandao. The event marked the first time the UFC had been shown in Ireland on a free-to-air basis, becoming the highest-rating sports event in the channel’s history.
McGregor's next fight is slated for September 27 against American Dustin Poirier as part of UFC 178 in Las Vegas.