Michael Bisping (R) and Anderson Silva face off at Tower Bridge on February 25, 2016 in London, England. Scott Heavey | Zuffa LLC | Getty Images

If you're looking to watch the highly anticipated Anderson Silva versus Michael Bisping fight on Saturday, don't turn to a TV pay-per-view channel. This UFC fight will only be available through UFC Fight Pass, the organization's digital streaming service. "We would fail ourselves if we only stayed in a silo and delivered it in the traditional way of distribution and content," said Eric Winter, UFC senior vice president and general manager of Fight Pass.



By making the London-based UFC Fight Night 83 matches only available through its own digital platform, the organization is breaking away from a decades-long tradition of combat sports events making availing themselves through pay-per-view on premium cable networks like HBO and Showtime. Winter said the decision isn't a sign that the UFC is moving away from TV, and still enjoys its partnership with Fox. But, it does reflect that UFC is seeing that its viewers want to watch content on their own time — and digital platforms like Fight Pass allow them to do that. "We know our customers are at the digital forefront," said Winter. "We are seeing customers searching on mobile devices four times more than on their desktop. The consumption is still on desktop but eking out into mobile."

And, with cord cutting a growing reality — eMarketer is predicting that 12.5 percent more households will quit cable in 2016 — not relying on using a PPV method that requires a subscription may be a smart move.