Bellator moved to CBS-owned Showtime in 2021 after a brief stint on CBS Sports Network in 2020. The promotion began it run this past April with most events airing on Friday nights. It also used a subscription special in order to entice fans to sign up for Showtime. Ratings on Showtime were sparse considering it […]
Top 10 of 2021
Top 10 of 2021: No. 7 PFL returns from one year absence for third season
The Professional Fighters’ League returned after a year absence due to the pandemic for its third season. The company streamed on ESPN+ and ESPN2 for most of its events. It signed Claressa Shields who fought in two MMA fights. While the signing brought in some traffic, it was clear that Shields was a novice with […]
Top 10 of 2021: No. 8 Appeals Court awards Mark Hunt split decision in UFC lawsuit
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s dismissal of Mark Hunt’s claims regarding Fraud and Battery sending back the lawsuit. From our post earlier this year: The appeals court heard the case approximately a week from the date of the issuance of the opinion. The Court sided with the UFC with Hunt’s […]
Top 10 of 2021: No. 9 Francis Ngannou contract issues
Top 10 of 2021: 10. Venum replaces Reebok as Fight Kit Sponsor
This spring Venum became the exclusive in-octagon Fight Kit and Fight Week apparel sponsor replacing Reebok. Perhaps, due in part to the pandemic, Venum’s new partnership received little fan fare as compared to the big Reebok reveal several years prior. Still, the Venum partnership promised a bump in pay which was a nice tease. However, […]