In 2012 the UFC's deal with Facebook for streaming preliminary bouts before televised or pay-per-view events will end and the UFC will move those fights to Fuel TV. Facebook's streaming service has been widely praised by UFC fans as it is fast, reliable, and close to full-HD quality. Additionally, non-PPV events from other countries, such as the one we just had from Birmingham on Saturday, will be on Fuel, while Fight Night's and TUF Finale's will be on FX. Fuel TV is only in about 26-million homes in the US and though there is some hope the UFC will simulcast the preliminary bouts on Fox Sports' website (hopefully not UFC.com which sucks, even with pay-per-stream events), no announcement has been made regarding what Fuel TV-less fans will be forced to resort to. Suppose it could serve as incentive for people to get the channel. In related news, Spike TV's one hour pre-show that typically features two to three bouts depending on running time, will move to FX (the 9-10pm ET slot). So if you don't have that channel either (my hand is raised) you will miss the pre-event show, the preliminary bouts on Fuel, and the preliminary bouts on FX (about four hours total) as well as a wrap-up show on Fuel afterwards. Maybe Canadian fans will be able to watch it all on Rogers (my hope) who have picked up exclusive broadcasting rights in Canada, but US fans will seemingly be forced to buy the channels or look for the dastardly (illegal) internet streams. For a company so dead-set on destroying streamers, the UFC seems to be pushing people in that direction with their excessive number of PPV events and now an obscure programming schedule. http://mmajunkie.com/news/26016/fue...ming-hub-2012-prelims-moving-off-facebook.mma
