BELLATOR MMA announced today that U-NEXT has become the promotion’s new exclusive broadcast partner in Japan beginning with BELLATOR 272: Pettis vs. Horiguchi, which takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Friday, Dec. 3, and airs live in Japan on Saturday, Dec. 4 starting at 9 a.m. JST. The exclusive two-year streaming agreement will see U-NEXT air all BELLATOR live events, including preliminary bouts and have a library of past events on demand beginning in December.
Hailing from Takasaki, Gunma, Japan, Kyoji “The Typhoon” Horiguchi (29-3) is the former BELLATOR 135-pound titleholder and current RIZIN champion. On Friday, Dec. 3, Horiguchi will challenge current BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion Sergio “The Phenom” Pettis (21-5) in a bid to reclaim the title he once held.
BELLATOR MMA is owned by media giant, ViacomCBS, and hosts over 30 live events annually across the globe featuring many of the sport’s best fighters. In addition to Horiguchi, BELLATOR is home to several Japanese mixed martial artists including Shinsho Anzai, Keita Nakamura, Kana Watanabe and Goiti Yamauchi.
Scott Coker, President, Bellator MMA:
“We are very excited to be able to have our fights air in Japan on the U-NEXT network. Throughout the history of this great sport, Japan has always had a ton of dedicated and knowledgeable MMA fans and we are thrilled to be able to regularly bring them our great events starting with this incredible fight between two world champions in Sergio Pettis and Kyoji Horiguchi.”
Tenshin Tsutsumi, President and Representative Director of U-NEXT:
“I am very pleased to be able to deliver the world’s famous martial arts competition BELLATOR to Japanese viewers. The world title match of the coming BELLATOR 272, where the current RIZIN bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi challenges BELLATOR bantamweight world champion Sergio Pettis is attracting nation-wide attention. We hope every MMA fan in Japan will enjoy the fight through our live streaming service.”