The UFC is set to make its main card debut on yet another U.S. channel this Wednesday but as always, Sportsnet will be your home to watch the fights in Canada.
In a rare midweek show, Jake (The Juggernaut) Ellenberger and Diego (The Dream) Sanchez will meet in a top welterweight clash as they headline UFC on FUEL TV 1. You can watch the entire three-hour, six-fight main card on all Sportsnet regional channels starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
In the co-main event at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Arena in Nebraska, Stefan (Skyscraper) Struve and Dave Herman will face off in a heavyweight duel.
There’s good news for Canadian fans as a previously scheduled preliminary fight between Canadian Ivan (The Pride of El Salvador) Menjivar and (Prince) John Albert has been moved to the televised card and will kick off the show on Sportsnet.
The Salvadoran bantamweight who calls Montreal home told sportsnet.ca that he was honoured by the promotion and that it shows the UFC’s commitment to showcasing fighters in the smaller weight classes.
"I feel good that they changed it and put (my fight) on free TV," Menjivar said. "Honestly, we’re small but we have a lot of talent. Bantamweight, flyweight, we are all in shape. It’s not an easy category (to compete in)."
The 29-year-old veteran said he wants to reward the organizers, and those who tune in on Wednesday night.
"That’s my first goal to go there and put on a super fight, and let the people enjoy the night," Menjivar said.
"It’s free!" he added with jubilant authority.
The four undercard fights for "UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger" can be seen streamed on the UFC’s Facebook page starting 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT.
Viewers can watch the weigh-ins on sportsnet.ca Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
It will be the first main card to air on the cable channel FUEL TV -- a subsidiary of FOX along with FX -- since the UFC landed a multi-year programming deal with the network. While FUEL TV is now the official cable home of the UFC and has broadcast past prelims and other programming -- including the newly formatted weigh-in show -- the organization has already held two shows on FOX and aired its first main card on FX last month.
UFC on FOX shows are expected to always be held on Saturdays, with UFC on FX in Friday night slots (in North America).
The FUEL TV events do not take place on designated days of the week. The second one will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, and is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, while UFC on FUEL TV 3 takes place on Tuesday, May 15 in Fairfax, Va.