The Indonesian streaming giant Mola has penned down an extension with The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Mola has been the exclusive home to UFC for some time now and with a new multi-year extension, they will continue to be the home of UFC events.
The agreement includes all UFC events, Fight Nights, plus “hundreds of hours” of programming from original shows such as UFC Countdown, UFC Connected, Road to UFC, and classic combat sports events.
Mola has been symbolic in establishing UFC's footprint in Indonesia and their partnership is one of the main reasons behind the emergence of the Asian market in MMA. Indonesia has 51 million fans according to UFC which is the third highest in Asia.
Kevin Chang, UFC senior vice president and head of Asia made the announcement of the deal by saying:
"UFC’s partnership with Mola has been amazing, and we're witnessing a new era of incredible growth in Indonesia.
“Our fan base in the country has become one of the strongest in Asia, so we are excited to extend our partnership with Mola into the foreseeable future and give the next generation of Indonesian fighters a platform to shine.”
Mola chief executive Mirwan Suwarso also shed his thoughts on and deal added:
“Not only is MMA the fastest growing sport globally, but it's also garnering more and more viewers in Indonesia with fight fans avidly following our first local fighter, Jeka Saragih, and his journey in UFC.
“Our business has been built on not only providing the best entertainment packages for consumers but also investing back into the communities in which we operate. This is why we are committed to developing homegrown talent to ensure Jeka is just the first in a long line of Indonesian fighters in UFC."
UFC and Mola also have been working on changing the MMA landscape
It has not only been about broadcasting and marketing that UFC and Mola have partnered on. The two companies have also partnered on an athlete development program that will scout promising Indonesian fighters and send them to the US for advanced training.
For UFC, this deal represents another strategic move to expand its global reach and tap into emerging markets.
Indonesia's vibrant sports scene, coupled with the nation's increasing appetite for combat sports, provides a fertile ground for the promotion to cultivate a dedicated fan base and elevate the profile of its fighters.
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