Versus formally announced its renewed television deal with Zuffa Monday, confirming that it will air seven World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) events in 2010.
The network’s effort to secure more WEC programming was not too surprising–WEC, a Zuffa-owned mixed martial arts brand that focuses on lighter weight classes, brings a larger, younger-skewing audience to the cable sports network for its live events. What is surprising, however, is the fact that the deal also gives Versus broadcast rights to two live UFC cards.
“Details regarding when the first live UFC event will air on the network will be announced in the near future,” read the press release, which similarly did not clarify the nature of the live UFC broadcasts.
In addition to seven live WEC fight cards this year, the Versus deal also includes new episodes of the WEC WreckCAGE highlight special.