Fuel TV steps into the octagon in a big way in 2012, kicking off with a 24-hour UFC marathon on New Year's Day.
During 2012, Fuel will air more than 2000 hours of UFC fare, including 100 hours of live bouts, weigh-ins, preliminary bouts, and pre- and post-fight shows. In the New Year, Fuel TV sayd it will offer more UFC programming than any network has ever presented. The programming is part of Fox Sports's seven-year, $700 million deal with the mixed martial arts outfit.
"We're beyond excited for the monster launch of the UFC on Fuel TV and can't wait for the ball to drop on New Year's so we can finally unveil all this incredible programming," said George Greenberg, Fuel TV executive vice president and general manager. "On January 1, Fuel TV becomes the number-one television destination for UFC fans. We're going to deliver amazing live fights, Fox-style pre- and post-fight shows with expert commentary, insightful news shows with exclusive material and powerful documentaries that followers of the UFC have never seen before."
Noted UFC president Dana White: "We're excited that Fuel TV will become the ultimate destination for UFC programming in 2012. We knew when we made the partnership with the Fox Sports Media Group that Fuel TV would allow us to put on more programming than every other network. If you're a fan of the UFC, you've got to have Fuel TV."
In addition to five shows premiering Jan. 1, Fuel launches UFC Tonight, the official news and information show of the UFC hosted by Todd Harris, on Jan. 3 at 10 p.m. (ET). The first live UFC weigh-in (UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes) is scheduled for Jan. 13 at 1 p.m., followed by the first post-fight show on Jan. 14 at 1 a.m. Fuel will showcase the first preliminary bouts for UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.
The following are Fuel's descriptors for some of its UFC highlights in January (all times ET):
Jan. 1, 12 a.m.
UFC Reloaded 1 (UFC 79 Nemesis)
Missed that one Pay-Per-View everyone's always talking about? Not to worry because FUEL TV is bringing you some of the biggest and most memorable events in UFC history, featuring exclusive, never-before-seen, footage and much, much more. You may know the result, but the epic battles on "UFC Reloaded" will keep you on the edge of your seat. There will be 14 episodes in 2012.
Jan. 1, 3 a.m.
UFC Bad Blood: Liddell vs. Ortiz
Once friends, now bitter enemies. UFC superstars Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz waged intense battles in and out of the Octagon. The 90-minute special "UFC Bad Blood: Liddell vs. Ortiz," gives an all-access look at the epic feud forged in heated competition over the UFC Championship, and fueled by personal conflict outside of the cage. Through new, exclusive interviews, rare behind-the-scenes footage, and hard-hitting action from their historic fights, you can re-live the rivalry that helped launch the Ultimate Fighting Championship into the mainstream and made Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz household names that will be forever linked.
Jan. 1, 4:30 a.m.
UFC Champion's Roundtable with Jay Glazer
In this Fuel TV-produced half-hour special, Jay Glazer chats all things UFC with current and past champions Jon "Bones" Jones, Frank Mir, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin. Watch this intimate discussion about the UFC's meteoric rise, what it means to be a champion and many other topics.
Jan. 1, 5 a.m.
UFC Unleashed
UFC Unleashed features the best fights from the UFC vault! With 12, one-hour specials over 2012, "UFC Unleashed" brings viewers the big names and epic battles they want to see.
Jan. 1, 6 a.m.
UFC Ultimate Knockouts
UFC Ultimate Knockouts brings viewers the greatest knockouts in MMA history, delivered by fighters who refuse to leave results in the hands of the judges ... or even allow their opponent a chance to tap out. In this two-hour special, these warriors seek not just to win, but to dominate ... with one devastating strike!
(Note: The January 1 schedule repeats this eight-hour block the rest of the day.)
Jan. 3, 7 a.m.
Best of PRIDE Fighting Championships
Peer into the PRIDE vault as FUEL TV brings viewers some of the greatest mixed martial artists in history, featuring classic wars from Japan's MMA glory days. In 12, one-hour shows, watch as many of today's biggest UFC stars like Anderson "The Spider" Silva, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and Antônio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira first rose to prominence in the PRIDE ring. Viewers get to relive all of the classic battles in the "Best of PRIDE Fighting Championships."
Jan. 3, 10 p.m.
UFC Tonight
UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before and after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is a fan's number-one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This weekly, half hour show is hosted by Todd Harris, with analyst Kenny Florian, Insider Ariel Helwani and features from Jay Glazer.
Jan. 10, 6 p.m.
UFC Best of 2011
Each year, the Ultimate Fighting Championship gets more exciting than the last. Re-live the thrilling action of the best bouts, the greatest knockouts and submissions, and other incredible highlights of the previous 12 months in this three-hour special, as we breakdown top contenders in each weight class, rising stars, and the warriors currently dominating the sport.
Jan. 10, 9 p.m.
Countdown to UFC Rio: Also vs. Mendes
Countdown to UFC sets the stage for the UFC's biggest fights with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes access to fighter training camps. Over 14 episodes of this series, witness the intense preparation, hear each fighter's opinion of their opponent, and get expert analysis on the match-up - all leading up to the big fight.
Jan. 13, 1 p.m.
Live UFC Weigh-in: UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendeds
UFC's biggest and baddest stars weigh-in and face-off live before a night of epic battles inside the Octagon.
Jan. 14, 1 a.m.
UFC on Fuel TV: Post-Fight Show - UFC Rio: Aldo vs. Mendes
Jay Glazer and today's top MMA analysts recap the night's bouts, serve up exclusive fighter interviews, and talk about 'what's next' for the winners and losers after the big fight in this one-hour show.
Jan. 19, 5 p.m.
Live UFC Weigh-in: UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
UFC's biggest and baddest stars weigh-in and face-off live before a night of epic battles inside the Octagon.
Jan. 20, 6 p.m.
UFC on Fuel TV: Preliminary Bouts - UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
Witness the next generation of UFC stars rise as Fuel TV kicks off a night of unforgettable action, featuring three hours of MMA's hungriest and most promising fighters. If you want to see the battles that make up-and-coming fighters into household names, you don't want to miss the prelims on Fuel TV.
Jan. 20, 11 p.m.
UFC on Fuel TV: Post-Fight Show - UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
Jan. 27, 5 p.m.
Live UFC Weigh-in: UFC on Fox
Jan. 28, 5 p.m.
UFC on Fuel TV: Preliminary Bouts - UFC on Fox
Jan. 28, 10 p.m.
UFC on Fuel TV: Post-Fight Show - UFC on Fox
Jan. 31, 9 p.m.
Countdown to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
