TV5 to air UFC matches beginning next year

Frankie Edgar (right) clashed with Urijah Faber in the main event of UFC's first Philippine fight card last May. (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Many got curious when TV5's cable TV sports channel Hyper posted a teaser on its Facebook page on Monday that it will air UFC fights beginning January.
The UFC is now on Cignal and TV5!
This January 2016, we're bringing the fight to you.Watch the UFC LIVE on Hyper ch. 53 on Cignal, and the encore telecast on TV5! #UFCOnCignal #UFCOnTV5
Posted by Hyper on Sunday, December 20, 2015
It turned out, TV5 will seriously have the UFC at its helm.

The broadcasting giant got a breakthrough after getting the TV rights to the UFC matches from rival station ABSCBN as the latter looks to reformat its own sports arm.

Sports 5, TV5's sports arm, tweeted the official announcement later Monday.
The news came just as ABSCBN announced that Balls will go off-air for good come New Year's Day and that Creative Programs Inc., who does the producing for Balls and Myx shows, "has provided contractual notice that their sports agenda will move forward to another direction."

TV5's broadcasting format of the UFC will have the fight cards, including the PPV's, airing live on Sports 5's HD channel exclusively for Cignal users, Hyper airing same day telecasts, and TV5 airing the replays.

ABSCBN, through its Balls and Sports and Action channels, became the home of the UFC for several years and was the official broadcaster of the MMA promotion's first Philippine event on May 16.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno