Middleweight Marvin Vettori (right) is the most high profile Italian UFC fighter. (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Media giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has secured the media rights in Italy to mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion UFC.

Beginning on January 11, 2025, with UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2, WBD’s Discovery+ OTT service becomes the exclusive home in Italy of all UFC events

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The deal includes fight nights, as well as top-line numbered events and other UFC cards and late prelims.

Also included is access to UFC’s extensive content archive, as well as shoulder content and ancillary programming around UFC events.

WBD-owned linear TV broadcasters Eurosport and Eurosport 2 will also host UFC content including highlights, replays, report shows, and select live events.

WBD also broadcasts UFC content in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

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Speaking on the new deal, UFC executive vice president and head of international and content David Shaw stated: “Warner Bros. Discovery has proven to be a great partner to UFC in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain.

“[WBD has] taken great care to present the sport of MMA and the UFC brand in the best possible way to current and new fans alike. Extending our partnership to Italy will offer our fans in the region new and bespoke coverage of our sport across all WBD digital and linear platforms so they won’t miss a minute of action.”

Until now, UFC rights in Italy had varied between broadcasters such as Fight Network, DAZN, and the UFC’s own Fight Pass service.

Currently, there are two Italian fighters signed to UFC, featherweight Manolo Zecchini, and middleweight Marvin Vettori, the latter a former middleweight UFC championship contender.

Other TV rights WBD hold in Italy include cycling’s trio of Grand Tours, tennis' Australian Open and French Open, and the quadrennial Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games, the 2026 edition of which will take place in Italy.