UFC Liverpool will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra on Sunday, May 27, marking the first time an MMA event, let alone the UFC, has ever been featured live on BBC airwaves.
Liverpudlian Darren Till is set to headline the sold-out card at Liverpool’s Echo Arena against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson on Sunday evening.
The event caps off a huge sporting weekend for the city, with one half of the city being captivated by the Champions League final set to play out on Saturday night between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid.
Full press release below:
BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will broadcast a UFC® event live for the first time when the UFC makes its long-awaited debut in Liverpool, England on Sunday, May 27.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: THOMPSON vs. TILL, which takes place at the Echo Arena Liverpool, will be aired live on the station during an historic weekend of sport in Liverpool.
The show will be hosted by presenters OJ Borg and Nick Peet, who produce the popular BBC MMA Show, a weekly podcast which also features ex-athlete and current UFC commentator and analyst, Dan Hardy. Also joining the commentary team, and bringing with them years of experience within the combat sports world, will be Malcolm Martin and former UFC athlete and fan favourite Brad Pickett.
The announcement reflects the incredible demand for live UFC action in the UK, with tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: THOMPSON vs. TILL selling out within an hour of going on sale, making it the first combat sports event to sell out the Echo Arena Liverpool.
BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will air the entirety of the main card, starting at approximately 6:00 p.m. BST, following the conclusion of the fourth day of the England vs. Pakistan Cricket Test. The show will end with the headline bout between No. 1 ranked UFC welterweight Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Liverpool’s Darren “The Gorilla” Till, the No. 8 ranked UFC welterweight.
The live broadcast will include backstage interviews from UFC Connected host Layla Anna-Lee with celebrity UFC fans and guest fighters, capping off what is set to be an electric Fight Week as the UFC’s famous Octagon® touches down in the city of Liverpool for the very first time.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: THOMPSON vs. TILL concludes an important weekend of sport in Liverpool as Liverpool FC face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday 26 May in Kiev, Ukraine. BBC Radio 5 live has exclusive radio commentary of the match.
David Shaw, UFC Senior Vice President, International and Content, said: “We’re extremely excited that BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra will be broadcasting live from a UFC event for the first time.
“The appeal of UFC continues to reach new heights in the UK and it’s fitting that this broadcast will cover such an historic and highly-anticipated event in Liverpool. With tickets to the event selling out so quickly, this gives fans who missed out another chance to follow the action.”
Ben Gallop, Head of BBC Radio and Digital Sport, said: “Broadcasting a UFC event live on BBC 5 live Sports Extra is a landmark moment for us. The growing popularity of UFC in the UK, particularly amongst younger audiences, makes it the ideal sport for us to broadcast live, offering comprehensive coverage to our millions of listeners. Our coverage on 5 live Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website will ensure fans won’t miss a moment of the action in Liverpool.”
