Live cage fighting to be shown by BBC for the first time

THE BBC is to show live cage fighting for the first time this weekend, following claims that it must do more to connect with a wider audience.

It represents a huge breakthrough for the sport after years of lobbying the corporation for recognition. Until recently, it had been largely consigned to subscription-only channels.

The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in Paris – an 11-fight Bellator card – will be shown live on iplayer as part of an ongoing deal to cover the sport that was signed off yesterday. It will be presented by Gareth A Davies, The Telegraph’s boxing and MMA correspondent.

All 11 bouts will be available live on the iplayer from Saturday at 4.30pm, with Londoner Michael “Venom” Page, a former eight-time freestyle kickboxing world champion, facing unbeaten Scotsman Ross Houston in one fight. The final fights of the night will also be live on Channel 5 from 10pm.

A BBC spokesman said: “While this is our first live coverage on iplayer, MMA is already covered by the BBC both online and on radio. It’s a sport we know is popular with our younger audience.”