Main Event UFC: Foxtel, Kayo launch dedicated 24/7 UFC channel

MMA fans, rejoice. A dedicated channel similar to Fox Footy AFL and Fox League NRL will give fans wall-to-wall UFC coverage for fight fans to devour.

Today marks a new era for MMA fans in Australia with Foxtel and Kayo Sports launching a brand new channel dedicated to the UFC.

This masthead can reveal the ‘Main Event UFC’ channel on 523 on Foxtel and on Kayo, will be broadcast in HD and feature 24/7 coverage for fight fans to devour.

Similar to the Fox League NRL and Fox Footy AFL channels, Main Event UFC will be packed with wall-to-wall coverage leading into key events and fights all over the globe.

The channel will be UFC fans’ one-stop shop for preview content, including UFC Countdown, behind-the-scenes video and live press conference and weigh-ins.

There will also be fight marathons on offer to relive your favourite fighters’ best moments and wildest bouts.

“We are supercharging the UFC experience across our platforms with a dedicated channel that will pump up all UFC fans in the lead up to upcoming pay-per-view events and Fight Nights on ESPN – all in HD,” said Foxtel’s director of content acquisitions and sports partnerships, Adam Howarth.

“The new channel continues our commitment to working with our partners to establish new fans and grow audiences.”

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Rob Whittaker is back in action in Abu Dhabi in October. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The channel is being launched to coincide with the UFC 306 blockbuster at The Sphere in Las Vegas this weekend.

UFC president Dana White has poured millions of dollars into the production of the event, which will also be known as UFC Noche due to it coinciding with Mexican Independence Day weekend.

It also comes just over a month out from Rob Whittaker’s monumental UFC 308 clash with Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi.

A win over Chimaev could propel Whittaker into a middleweight title rematch against South African champion Dricus du Plessis.

And if all goes according to plan, Whittaker’s team hopes that fight will be in Sydney if the UFC returns to the Harbour City early next year as has been rumoured.

Dricus du Plessis (L) defended the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya (R) last month. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Whittaker was one of only a handful of fighters who predicted du Plessis would beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth last month.

“Dricus is a weird dude,” Whittaker told this masthead.

“He’s just so awkward, but I knew he would win.

“He’s just got a headspace to win. He’s not going to stop unless you stop him.

“I thought Adesanya looked really good, but mentally he just wasn’t there. He just wasn’t at the same level.”

Meanwhile, in this weekend’s UFC 306 main event at The Sphere, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley will take another step on the path to being considered the best 135-pounder ever when he defends his title against Merab Dvalishvili.

Georgia’s Dvalishvili is riding a 10-fight winning streak though, including an impressive run of wins over Henry Cejudo, Petr Yan, Jose Aldo and Marlon Moraes.

Sean O’Malley (L) defends his bantamweight title at UFC 306 this weekend. Picture: Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The co-main event features a mouth-watering flyweight title trilogy between champion Alexa Grasso and former title-holder Valentina Shevchenko.

Grasso shocked the world with a UFC 285 submission win over Shevchenko in March 2023, before their highly anticipated rematch ended in a split draw a year ago.

One of the greatest female fighters of all time, Shevchenko defended the flyweight title seven times before her loss to Grasso 18 months ago, and looks to become a two-time champion.

Elsewhere on the card, Brian Ortega takes on Diego Lopes in a 145-pound bout that could have featherweight title ramifications in the future, while Raul ‘El Nino Problema’ Rosas Jr. takes the next step in his promising career against Aaori Qileng.