Dana White's Contender Series returns on ESPN+ this summer
The UFC’s much-praised live audition series will shift from UFC Fight Pass to ESPN+ this summer.
MMA Junkie confirmed with UFC officials that Dana White’s Contender Series will stream on the new platform, with the promotion currently targeting June or July for the launch.
Earlier this week, UFC President Dana White told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that the company plans on doing two seasons of the prospects-driven event in 2019, with one sure to air on ESPN+ and a second that could stream on ESPN+ but might land on UFC Fight Pass. The first of the two seasons will be featured on ESPN+.
An exact launch date has yet to be secured, but the promotion is currently considering an eight-to-ten week run for the first session, which will take place in June or July at the UFC’s new state-of-the-art production facility that is currently under construction in a 140,000 square-foot building adjacent to the company’s Las Vegas headquarters.
Launched in 2017, Dana White’s Contender Series has been responsible for launching the UFC careers of a number of up-and-coming prospects, including Maycee Barber, Greg Hardy, Sean O’Malley, Antonina Shevchenko and Johnny Walker, among others. With the new broadcast home, the athletes vying for a contract will get the added benefit of the ESPN spotlight, as well.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.