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Stateside UFC fans aren't the only ones getting free fights with UFC 122.
UFC U.K. president Marshall Zelaznik today told MMAjunkie.com that the fight promotion is countering a TV ban in Germany by offering UFC programming free of charge on the Web.
Fans can now watch UFC 122 on popular German sports website Spox.com, as well as the fight promotion's own German-language website.
"We think most of our fans are very internet savvy, so it's a perfect fit for us," Zelaznik told MMAjunkie.com.
UFC 122 takes place Nov. 13 at Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
Zelaznik said the fight continues to get the UFC back on German airwaves. In March, the Bavarian state office for new media (BLM) in March withdrew its approval to broadcast the promotion's programming, which prompted UFC lawyers to file suit.
That litigation is currently pending and may not be resolved until late next year, the executive said.
"We've been through a couple of hearings, and depending on what happens at which level and who appeals what, the soonest would be around six months," Zelaznik said, "But it could be another nine to 12 months."
The success of the lawsuit could carry major implications for the UFC's broadcast footprint within the country.
"There are networks that broadcast from within other states within Germany who have shown interest in the UFC but aren't prepared to commit to the UFC until this lawsuit is resolved," Zelaznik said. "So we have options that we're waiting to take advantage of once the litigation is gone."
The UFC first ventured into Germany for "UFC 99: The Comeback" in June 2009. While the promotion fell well short of selling-out Cologne's 20,000-seat Lanxess Arena, the promotion did manage to net a reported 12,800 spectators and $1.3 million live gate.
At the time, the figures were considered a success, especially when considering the UFC's very brief presence on German television and calls from concerned citizens to ban MMA in the country (while the efforts were based largely on outdated and simply incorrect information, the UFC eventually was forced to compromise and ban minors from the event).
Still, Zelaznik said media coverage of UFC 122 has been largely more positive than that of UFC 99 and believes the Nov. 13 should be a success.
"We had a very successful event last June in Cologne," he said. "The fights came off well. We turned the media as a result of that event in some fashion. We haven't had near the misinformation that was out there. So I think those things, along with the continued traffic we have to our website – just the emails we get from people, and then obviously the ticket sales. I think it really speaks loudly that the reason that we're putting the effort into Germany is (that it's) going to be rewarded at some point."
In the U.S., Spike TV airs UFC 122 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on approximately a six-hour delay for East Coast viewers (and nine hours for the West Coast).Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/21292/ufc-par ... 2-free.mma
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