There may be a lack of live MMA events right now due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that won’t stop Bellator MMA from coming to the CBS Sports Network. That’s because the promotion has reached a deal to air Bellator MMA Recharged, which is going to be a program that re-airs past Bellator cards in their entirety.
The promotion issued the following press release on the new program:
BELLATOR MMA AND CBS SPORTS PARTNER TO BRING BELLATOR MMA RECHARGED TO CBS SPORTS NETWORK
NEW SERIES WILL FEATURE MARQUEE CLASSIC BELLATOR EVENTS – BEGINNING WITH THE HISTORIC BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX STARTING ON APRIL 25 AT 8 P.M. ET/5 P.M. PT
LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA today announced that the promotion’s most historic events and marquee matchups will be showcased on CBS Sports Network starting Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in a new series titled Bellator MMA Recharged.
Following the premiere, the series will find a home on Wednesdays with episodes starting April 29 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Hosted by renowned veteran MMA referee and Bellator analyst “Big John” McCarthy, the new program kicks off with Bellator 192: Rampage vs. Sonnen and Bellator 194: Nelson vs. Mitrione, focusing on 2018’s year-long Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix for the vacant heavyweight title. The tournament featured top competitors, including Fedor Emelianenko, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Chael Sonnen, Ryan Bader, “King Mo” Lawal, Frank Mir, Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson, and culminated in the crowning of a new Bellator heavyweight world champion.
“I am excited to have found a new home for Bellator’s vast library of programming on CBS Sports Network – some of which have been the biggest cards in the history of MMA,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “This is a great way to increase Bellator’s visibility across additional ViacomCBS platforms, while giving our fans the opportunity to relive these incredible events again.”
"We look forward to showcasing the excitement of Bellator MMA action on CBS Sports Network. It’s a chance to present some of the biggest names in MMA while providing fight fans another opportunity to watch the spectacle of the best events," said CBS Sports Executive Vice President of Programming Dan Weinberg. "Bellator MMA Recharged demonstrates the ability we have to amplify ViacomCBS properties across our various platforms and assets, while servicing the fans with the exciting action they want."
The Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix was the first tournament held in the promotion since Scott Coker became Bellator President in 2014 and has since gone on to spur similar iterations in both the welterweight and featherweight divisions.
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
About CBS Sports Network:
CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is widely available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, fuboTV, DirecTV and Hulu. Additionally, a live CBS Sports Network stream is available through CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App by authenticating with select providers. For more information, including a full programming schedule, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
About Bellator:
Bellator is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing promotion featuring many of the best athletes in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on both Paramount Network and DAZN, the world’s first truly dedicated LIVE sports streaming service. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
