Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
PARAMOUNT+ AND CBS SPORTS BECOME U.S. ENGLISH-LANGUAGE HOME OF COMBATE GLOBAL MMA ACTION IN MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT
Live Coverage to Launch on CBS Sports Network on June 25 and Continue Exclusively on Paramount+ on July 9 for Remainder of 2021 Schedule
Paramount+ to Feature 30 Live Events Annually in 2022 and 2023
June 22, 2021 - Paramount+ and CBS Sports today announced a multi-year agreement with Combate Global to serve as the U.S. English-language home of Combate Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action.
CBS Sports' live coverage of Combate Global debuts on CBS Sports Network on June 25, with action continuing on Paramount+ exclusively from July 9 through the remainder of the 2021 Combate Global schedule which concludes in December. Paramount+ will feature 30 live events annually in 2022 and 2023. In addition, CBS Sports Network will complement Combate coverage with a weekly one-hour recap show with highlights of that week's card. Details of CBS Sports' debut fight on June 25 and the remaining 2021 Combate schedule will be announced on a future date.
Combate Global features fighters from across the world with an electrifying country vs. country style of competition, similar to international soccer matches. Fighters face off in "La Jaula," the Combate cage.
"The addition of Combate Global's exciting MMA action is a tremendous opportunity for Paramount+ to further expand its reach to a young and diverse fanbase," said Jeffrey Gerttula, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CBS Sports Digital. "We believe Combate events will complement the expansive live soccer programming that is now a cornerstone of our industry-leading sports coverage on the service and deliver even more unique sports content across CBS Sports platforms."
"We are thrilled to partner with CBS Sports and bring Combate Global action to the Paramount+ platform," said Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren. "Millions of combat sports fans have heard about Combate Global's fast and furious version of MMA and can now see for themselves. Find out why Combate is 'Much More Action' with our world class announcing team calling the action."
Combate 30-minute event preview shows and weekly hour-long recap shows will accompany the live event action programming on Paramount+. CBS Sports Network also will feature re-airs of Combate events with Combate's fight library available on-demand on Paramount+.
The fight telecasts will be produced by Combate Global and take place live from their set in Miami featuring Combate announcers Max Bretos and Julianna Peña, one of the top MMA fighters in the world.
CBS Sports Digital will deliver additional coverage and original programming, and will feature highlights across social channels and CBS Sports HQ, the 24/7 streaming sports news network.
About Paramount+:
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service from ViacomCBS, combines live sports, breaking news, and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world's biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream ViacomCBS Streaming's other live channels: CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
About Combate Global
Combate Global, previously "Combate Americas," is the premier Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise, rapidly becoming the number two sport after soccer for Spanish speaking fans worldwide. It is the only MMA property regularly airing on broadcast television in both the U.S. and Mexico. Nielsen research indicates that an astounding 91 percent of Combate Global viewers are not regular viewers of other MMA content, demonstrating that Combate Global has garnered a new MMA audience with its World Cup-style, country vs. country-style competition. Each year of Combate Global action culminates with "COPA COMBATE," the toughest event in sports, and the most coveted destination for representing one's country. Combate Global CEO Campbell McLaren, also the co-founder and creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been described by New York Magazine as "the marketing genius behind the UFC," while Yahoo Sports has said he "knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today." Under his direction, the growth of Combate Americas' television footprint and worldwide audience triggered a re-branding in 2021 to Combate Global.
