Every numbered and Fight Night event will continue to be shown live on either BT Sport or BT Sport Box Office - both on TV and online - as the partnership is extended into 2019 and beyond.

BT Sport is delighted to confirm that it will remain the exclusive home of UFC in the UK and Republic of Ireland into 2019 and beyond after agreeing a new multi-year broadcast rights deal.

The contract, which begins in January, means all live UFC numbered and Fight Night events will continue to be shown on BT Sport on TV and our two digital platforms - BTSport.com and the award-winning BT Sport app.

Subscribers will also be treated to over 100 hours of non-live programming per year as we follow the fortunes of the likes of former two-weight world champion Conor McGregor and British welterweight sensation Darren Till.

Andy Haworth, managing director of strategy and content in BT Consumer, welcomed the renewal of BT Sport’s long-standing partnership with the world’s leading MMA brand.

“BT Sport and UFC have been partners since our launch in 2013, and we’re delighted this will now continue,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard to offer fans high-quality, fresh and innovative UFC coverage across all of our channels, and in particular on social media, which fans are responding really well to.

“This is great news for our viewers, who can continue to enjoy UFC with BT Sport.”

BT Sport’s digital offering features a comprehensive combination of build-up, live streaming and catch-up video content around every UFC event.

Subscribers who cannot catch numbered events live can watch full fight replays in the immediate aftermath with our spoiler-free service, which also includes – at a later time – entire cards.

Meanwhile, there are thousands of hours of brilliant UFC content to feast on in our unrivalled library of classic fights, full cards and episodes of popular shows such as The Ultimate Fighter.

“BT Sport have proven to be an engaged, committed and passionate partner,” said David Shaw, UFC’s international and content senior vice president.

“We have worked closely together to grow the sport, brand and athletes in the UK and Ireland over the past five years.

“Our fans have made it clear how much they enjoy BT’s coverage of UFC and we are delighted to continue our partnership with them.”

Last weekend’s incredible featherweight world title fight between Max Holloway and Brian Ortega at UFC 231 was the latest in a long line of gripping bouts shown on BT Sport in recent months.

And while the new broadcast deal kicks in at the start of 2019, there are still two unmissable events scheduled on our channels before the end of the year.

On Saturday night, two of the major lightweight title contenders, Kevin Lee and Al Iaquinta, meet for the second time at UFC on Fox 31, with Lee looking to avenge the points defeat he suffered at UFC 169.

The co-main event is no less intriguing as two of the division’s other major players, KO artist Edson Barboza and in-form New Zealander Dan Hooker, do battle at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

We’ll then be rounding off 2018 in truly epic style as legendary former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones makes his eagerly awaited comeback at UFC 232 following a 15-month hiatus from the octagon.

All eyes will be on the man known as ‘Bones’ as he takes on Alex Gustafsson for a second time, having outpointed the Swede at UFC 165 in the sixth of his eight straight successful title defences.

The 30 December extravaganza will also see history being made as two reigning women’s champions collide for the first time ever, with undisputed bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes stepping up to featherweight to challenge the equally fearsome Cris Cyborg.

Meanwhile, it’s champion versus champion again in the first official event of the new rights deal as Henry Cejudo and TJ Dillashaw lock horns on what promises to be an explosive Fight Night on 19 January.

Cejudo stunned the world at UFC 227 in August as he sensationally ended the most dominant championship reign in UFC history at 11 defences by defeating flyweight and pound-for-pound king Demetrious Johnson.

Like Nunes, Cejudo will now step up to bantamweight to take on title holder Dillashaw, whose stock has never been higher.

Having wrested the belt from friend-turned-bitter-rival Cody Garbrandt in November 2017 to become a two-time champion, he then beat him again in even more emphatic fashion at UFC 227 to cement his place at the top of the tree.

And with UFC’s return to London on 16 March also looming large on the horizon, there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the journey on BT Sport - so jump on board now!