No Showtime? No problem – at least for Bellator 255
If you’re an MMA fan, but without a Showtime subscription ahead of this week’s Bellator premiere on the premium cable network, there’s no problem.
Showtime and Bellator on Wednesday announced it will deliver Bellator 255 for free to non-subscribers across several different streaming services, online platforms and TV providers.
Friday’s Bellator 255 main card will air on Showtime for subscribers at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, it will be available on the Pluto TV, Hulu, YouTube and FuboTV streaming services. The Armstrong, Buckeye, Liberty, Optimum and Suddenlink cable providers also will offer the event without a Showtime subscription.
In the main event, lightweight and featherweight champion Patricio Freire (31-4 MMA, 19-4 BMMA) puts his 145-pound title on the line in a rematch against Emmanuel Sanchez (20-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA). That fight also is a semifinal bout in Bellator’s ongoing featherweight tournament. The winner will move on to the final to meet A.J. McKee.
“We are proud to be the new home of Bellator and delighted to share this debut event with millions of non-subscribers,” Stephen Espinoza, Showtime’s president for sports and event programming, stated. “Bellator has steadily built the strongest roster in its history and now includes some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. On Friday night, we will introduce new fans to this premier brand of mixed martial arts and invite them to our network, which along with world-class championship boxing now boasts more than 40 live combat sports events per year. Showtime Sports premium fight coverage and signature storytelling sets the standard in combat sports and, coupled with our leading entertainment content, the value of the Showtime subscription is now unrivaled for combat sports fans.”
New Showtime viewers can get a 30-day free trial to the Showtime streaming service ahead of Bellator 255, followed by a reduced monthly subscription cost of $4.99 per month for six months.
Bellator’s first events in 2021 will take place on three straight weeks starting with Bellator 255 on Friday, Bellator 256 on April 9 and Bellator 257 on April 16. Then Bellator 258 goes down May 7.