TVNZ has secured a groundbreaking deal with the UFC, bringing a mix of free and pay-to-view fights to Kiwi fans. This three-year partnership will revolutionize the way Kiwis engage with the sport, offering a unique viewing experience. Under the agreement, preliminary UFC events and Fight Nights will stream live and free on TVNZ+, with most broadcasts also airing on TVNZ Duke. The first event, UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett, will be available on January 25, followed by UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 on February 1. Later in the year, fans can purchase TVNZ+ Event Passes for UFC Numbered Events, providing a seamless viewing experience. TVNZ's commercial general manager, Josh Wolfe, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting the opportunity to showcase the rapidly growing sport to a wider New Zealand audience. The UFC's senior vice president, Peter Kloczko, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the thrill of partnering with TVNZ to bring their exciting events to more Kiwis. This deal has already sparked excitement among fans and fighters alike. 1News visited Auckland's City Kickboxing, home to stars like Israel Adesanya, Kai Kara France, and Dan Hooker. Fighters there praised the deal's potential to boost the sport's visibility. Adesanya noted that the shift to free-to-air viewing will make the sport more accessible to the general populace, while Hooker celebrated the opportunity for fans to watch events without high costs. TVNZ is committed to protecting viewers, especially given the highly physical nature of the UFC. The broadcaster's head of sport, Melodie Robinson, assured that audiences will be well-informed before tuning in, with clear signposting and appropriate ratings for each event. This deal marks TVNZ's second pay-per-view initiative, following their successful FIFA World Cup coverage. With this partnership, TVNZ is poised to become the go-to destination for UFC fans in New Zealand, offering a unique blend of free and paid viewing options.
