on for new show
The Ultimate Fighting Championship sought to expand its image over the past few years.
Fighters are appearing on popular television shows, including Tito Ortiz's run on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump.
The Ultimate Fighter, a reality-based show that focuses on a group of aspiring fighters and their quest for a contract, continues to be a juggernaut for Spike TV.
Beginning Saturday night, however, the exposure takes a different turn.
The UFC announced a partnership with Galavisión earlier this week for a new weekly series entitled ''El Octágono del UFC'' (The UFC's Octagon).
The show, which debuts Saturday night (May 10) will air on Galavisión at 8.
The show will feature highlights of some of the best fights in the UFC's 15-year history, with an emphasis on some of the promotion's Hispanic favorites, including Diego Sanchez, Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta. Huerta's fight versus Leonard Garcia is featured prominently on the debut show.
''We are very excited to bring our viewers this one-of-a-kind show which highlights the best of the sport;'' Joanne Lynch, senior vice president and general manager of Galavisión said in a statement. ``Partnering with organizations like UFC allows us to offer our viewers more of the diverse programming they want to see, making Galavisión the perfect choice in Spanish-language cable.''
The expansion into the Hispanic market has long been a priority for UFC president Dana White, and the new deal marks the first step toward that goal.
''I am pleased that Galavisión is bringing UFC to its millions of viewers with 'El Octágono del UFC,''' White said in a statement. ``We want to give sports fans everywhere the opportunity to watch UFC on a regular basis, so I am excited Galavisión will help make UFC available to a whole new audience here in the United States.''
Troy Santiago and Victor Davila will host the show.
''I am so proud to be part of this first UFC program for Galavisión,'' Santiago said in a statement. ``This is a sport that seems to have been created for us, the Latinos. It has action, adventure, extreme passion and an always unpredictable ending.''
