As sports organizations suspend their agreements with Russian broadcasters due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to maintain a lucrative broadcast relationship with controversial, state-owned Russian sources.
The UFC is partnered with Gazprom-Media, a subsidiary of the Russian oil and gas giant and Russia’s largest media holding. The long-term deal, which was agreed upon in December 2021, made Gazprom the exclusive broadcast partner for the UFC in Russia through its popular sports network, Match TV.
“For the UFC in Russia, the deal with Gazprom-Media and Match TV is a historic step forward,” UFC Russia vice president Andrei Gromkovsky said at the time.