Your MMA watching schedule will look drastically different in 2013. You will be able to catch MMA from the UFC and Bellator on weeknights.
According to MMA Junkie, an advertisement in the next edition of UFC 360 (formerly the UFC magazine) said the next edition of the show will air on Tuesdays on FX. Chael Sonnen and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones are the coaches for the next season. Currently, the show airs on Friday nights, and ratings have taken a nosedive. With a new night and two of their most popular fighters serving as coaches, the UFC is hoping to right the TUF ship.
Bellator announced Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's debut will air on Jan. 17, a Thursday, according to MMA Fighting. There have also been reports that the promotion's first show on Spike will air on Jan. 10, but only the Jan. 17 date has been confirmed. This signals the promotion's move from Friday to Thursday nights.
The best part of this is that the two promotions won't be fighting for MMA fans' eyes. Tuesday nights are generally light on sports, so the UFC has a chance not just to have MMA fans tune in, but also to pick up new fans.
For Bellator, their season begins when the NFL is in playoffs. They won't have to compete with football on Thursday nights. The new night and the move to Spike -- and a widely available HD channel -- should help to get more eyes on the tournament-based promotion.
Will the night change affect how much you watch "The Ultimate Fighter" and Bellator? Speak up in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
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