Report: UFC Looking To Double Broadcast Fees In China

Weili Zhang made history at UFC Fight Night Shenzhen, defeating Jessica Andrade to win the UFC Women’s Strawweight Title and also becoming the first Chinese-born fighter to claim UFC gold.

That win could prove to be a profitable one for the UFC as well because a report from the New York Post is stating that the UFC is looking to double their broadcasting fees in China. The promotion signed a five year deal with PPTV in China in 2016, with the promotion getting $50 million for that five year stretch. 

While that deal is still good, negotiations have apparently begun between the UFC and PPTV, with the UFC looking to up the money to $100 million for five years or $20 million per year. The report also states that the UFC has starting talking to other companies like Alibaba and Tencent, who provide streaming services in the country. 

The UFC also recently opened a UFC Performance Institute in China, which is where a lot of fighters trained before UFC Fight Night Shenzhen. 

There is no word yet on when Zhang will make the first defense of the women’s strawweight championship, but the title holder has also stated that she would like the UFC to hold a pay-per-view card in China as well.