Zuffa Boxing’s rapid takeover of the global fight landscape reached another milestone this week. As the promotion secured a major broadcast deal with Sky Sports to bring its events to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The agreement signals a powerful return of Sky Sports to high-level boxing and positions Zuffa as a dominant force across multiple international markets.
Under the new partnership, Zuffa Boxing will air all of its events on Sky Sports across the U.K. and Ireland while committing to stage at least five fight cards annually on British soil. For Zuffa Boxing president Dana White, the move is both strategic and symbolic.
“The UK has played such a pivotal role throughout the history of boxing,” White said. “The fans there are some of the most loyal and passionate in the world.
“When you talk about boxing in that region, Sky Sports has always been the home for legendary boxing fights. There’s no bigger or better platform to showcase the best boxing in the U.K. This is a massive milestone for Zuffa Boxing.” The first event under the new deal will be Zuffa Boxing 05: Cortes vs. Garcia, scheduled for Sunday, April 5, live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Sky Sports Returns to Boxing With Power Moves
This deal marks a significant comeback for Sky Sports, which had been largely absent from boxing following the conclusion of its partnership with Boxxer last year. That exit came after Sky’s long-standing and highly successful relationship with Matchroom Boxing ended in 2021 leaving the broadcaster without a clear boxing identity for several years. Now, Sky is re-entering the sport aggressively.
In addition to Zuffa, the network recently secured a deal with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, signaling a renewed commitment to boxing with a modern, crossover-driven approach.
Zuffa Boxing’s expansion into the U.K. market is further fueled by its growing stable of high-profile fighters. Earlier this year, British star Conor Benn made headlines by leaving Matchroom Boxing and promoter Eddie Hearn to sign with Zuffa a move that shook the promotional landscape.
Benn is set to return to the ring on April 11 against former world champion Regis Prograis. The fight will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov. In a blockbuster event streamed globally on Netflix.
The promotion itself is backed by a powerhouse leadership group that includes Turki Alalshikh. TKO Group Holdings president Nick Khan, and White blending boxing tradition with UFC-style global promotion.
Multi-Platform Strategy Signals New Era
Zuffa’s broadcast strategy continues to reflect its ambition to dominate the sport across multiple platforms. While Sky Sports will handle distribution in the U.K. and Ireland, Zuffa events in the United States are currently streamed on Paramount+.
The company’s most recent card headlined by Jai Opetaia’s victory over Brandon Glanton on March 8 further demonstrated its ability to deliver meaningful fights across its growing network of partners.
A full fight schedule for the remainder of 2026 is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. With anticipation building around Zuffa’s planned U.K. events and continued crossover mega-cards. With major media deals now spanning Paramount+, Netflix, and Sky Sports, Zuffa Boxing is quickly assembling a global distribution model that rivals and in some cases surpasses traditional boxing promoters.
And if early signs hold true. This partnership could mark the beginning of a new era where Zuffa Boxing becomes a central power broker. Not just in America, but across the entire sport.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
