Univision is acquiring a significant equity stake in Combate Global, a top Hispanic mixed martial arts (MMA) sports franchise. Terms of the deal, which went into effect Wednesday, weren’t announced.
Combate Global or Combate Americas intends to continue its global expansion. They recently signed a five-year media rights deal that covers 30 live television events airing annually – a total of 150 events – many of which will take place live from Univision’s studios in Miami. Their partnership with Univision will be a great way for the ten-year-old MMA promotion to get a foot in the door & positioning the fight organization for international expansion.
Mixed martial arts has been growing in popularity among Spanish speaking sports fans worldwide. Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren started the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the company’s assets include reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming.
Combate Global programming began airing live on Univision in 2018, when the company was known as “Combate Americas,” becoming the only MMA sports franchise to be programmed on free-to-air, cable TV and digital platforms.