Modern combat sports generally include one-on-one contact sports such as boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Brazilian ju-jitsu, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai, grappling sports such as wrestling, and many others. Below we tell you where and how to watch the top combat sports leagues and events on DIRECTV.
Boxing
Professional boxing has one of the more complex organizational structures in all of sports. With multiple promotional organizations representing different fighters and multiple broadcasters aligned with different promoters, boxing matches take place on numerous channels throughout the year. Let’s look at the the top channels for boxing’s biggest fights.
ESPN has an exclusive arrangement with Top Rank Boxing. They broadcast their fights variously on ESPN and ESPN+. DIRECTV STREAM subscribers can watch the ESPN fights for free. For the fights on ESPN+, DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with our exclusive Gemini air device can access the fights on the ESPN+ app through Gemini, but ESPN+ requires a subscription.
Check out the latest boxing schedule across all channels.
FOX Sports has deals with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC). PBC Fight Nights are usually held monthly but the schedule varies. These PBC events are typically broadcast for free if you subscribe to a FOX Sports PPV broadcast.
For these PPV fights, DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with our exclusive Gemini air device, can access the PPV on their TV through the device. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM subscriber you will have to access the PPV outside our app and through the FOX Sports app.
See what’s on in combat sports each day with our DIRECTV sports daily schedule.
DAZN often shows fighters from Golden Boy Promotions and sometimes PBC Boxing. They air fights through their app. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with our exclusive Gemini device can access the DAZN app on their TV through the device, but you’ll need a DAZN subscription to watch the fights. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM subscriber, you will have to access DAZN fights outside our app and through the DAZN app.
There are various Pay Per View (PPV) events throughout the year that broadcast under a growing variety of labels, including, DAZN, Triller, PBC, FOX Sports, among others. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with Gemini, can typically access these PPVs through Gemini by downloading the associated app and purchasing the PPV. DIRECTV STREAM subscribers will have to access the PPV outside our app and through the app of the PPV promoter.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
The UFC has an exclusive relationship with ESPN. They generally have two kinds of live events. UFC Fight Night usually happens three weekends a month and can be watched for free on ESPN. DIRECTV STREAM includes ESPN at every package level. Fight Night events are also now being named for the cities where they take place, i.e., UFC London, UFC Paris.
Check out the full event schedule of the UFC on ESPN.
The UFC’s premier event is their numbered edition, i.e., UFC 235, UFC 236, etc. These events occur once a month and are only available on ESPN+ PPV. That means you first need to be a subscriber to ESPN+. Then you can buy the PPV through ESPN+. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with Gemini air can access the ESPN+ app on their TV through the device. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM subscriber, you will have to access ESPN+ outside our app and through the ESPN app with your ESPN+ login.
Combat sports generally include one-on-one contact sports such as boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Brazilian ju-jitsu, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai, grappling sports such as wrestling, and many others.
For UFC PPV fights, preliminary bouts are usually aired on ESPN for free. But then they switch to the PPV broadcast for the main card, which generally consists of five fights.
The UFC schedule also features Dana White’s Contender Series for up-and-coming fighters on ESPN+. The Contender Series generally airs in late summer and runs for two months. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with Gemini, can access the ESPN+ app on their TV through the device, but you’ll need an ESPN+ subscription as well. If you are a DIRECTV STREAM subscriber, you will have to access ESPN+ outside our app and through the ESPN app with your ESPN+ login.
ESPN also replays various UFC events on a regular basis, including “best of” compilations and unseen footage. These shows include UFC Unleashed and UFC Reloaded.
Bellator
BELLATOR MMA has an exclusive relationship with SHOWTIME. Its events are structured much like the UFC. They have monthly “BELLATOR MMA on SHOWTIME” events on SHOWTIME. These are numbered events as well (BELLATOR 282, BELLATOR 283, etc.).
Check out the full BELLATOR schedule.
DIRECTV STREAM subscribers will need a SHOWTIME subscription to watch these events.
Professional Fighters League (PFL)
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is featured exclusively on ESPN in the United States. The PFL MMA is organized in a regular season, playoffs, and championship format. Its live events generally run from April through the end of the year. DIRECTV STREAM subscribers can stream ESPN at every package level.
Check the full event schedule for the PFL.
The PFL schedule also features the PFL Challenger Series for up-and-coming fighters. This year the series debuted in February and run through March. It is aired on fuboTV and its linear network, Fubo Sports Network. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers with our exclusive Gemini air device can access PFL events through the fubo app on the device. Subscribers without Gemini will have to access the events outside our app on the fuboTV app.
Wrestling
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) hosts three events every week. WWE Friday Night Smackdown airs on Fox every Friday night. WWE Monday Night Raw airs on USA Network every Monday. And WWE NXT (also known as NXT 2.0) airs on USA Network every Tuesday night. WWE Smackdown and WWE Raw are the brand’s flagship promotions.
Check out the event schedule for WWE.
The WWE also has a WWE Network on Peacock, with a variety of regular events. DIRECTV via Internet subscribers can access through the network using Gemini if they have it, or by downloading the Peacock app if they don’t Gemini.
The WWE also hosts periodic PPV events, including their “Big Four” which are Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series.
AEW
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is a wrestling promotion that airs two main events every week. Its AEW Dynamite series each Wednesday on TBS. Its AEW Rampage airs on TNT every Friday night.
Check out the event schedule for AEW.
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