UFC signs TV deal to broadcast in MENA region

The UFC signed its first major broadcasting deal of the WME-IMG era Thursday.

All of the promotion's content, including their pay-per-views, will soon be available to the Middle East and North Africa region through an exclusive partnership with the Orbit Showtime Network, according to a UFC release.

OSN executive Andy Warkman stated that a key part of the deal involves the UFC producing "localized Arabic content 'for the region, from the region.'" The network is comprised of 154 television channels.

In April 2010, the UFC held its first show in the Middle East, which was headlined by a middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Demian Maia. It returned to Abu Dhabi four years later for a UFC Fight Night card featuring heavyweights Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event.

The UFC's online Fight Pass service is also expected to launch in the MENA region.