Although this is more of a boxing story, Showtime closing its sports division meant the end for Bellator. The promotion’s fortune may have been decided independent of the network deciding to cut sports but it ends another outlet for MMA.
Prior to Bellator, Strikeforce also was on the premium cable network. Viewers showed scant support for MMA on Showtime. Notably, Bellator 300 this past October, did not register in the top 150 in cable ratings.
PFL acquiring Bellator is a huge deal in the MMA landscape and also means that as of now (pending the UFC rights deal) ESPN holds a huge share of MMA online and on linear television.
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