MMA fans can watch Bellator 255 in its entirety for free across a variety of platforms, including MMA Fighting.
Showtime on Wednesday announced a list of TV channels and websites that will carry the fight card featuring two-division champion Patricio Freire’s rematch against Emannuel Sanchez in the semifinals of the Bellator featherweight grand prix.
Online, the event can be seen on Pluto TV, Hulu, YouTube and FuboTV in addition to cable providers Armstrong, Buckeye, Liberty, Optimum and Suddenlink. Showtime is also offering a free 30-day trial of the premium cable network so fans can tune in, and the event will also be carried on Showtime and Bellator’s YouTube channel.
Bellator 255 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event kicks off the ViacomCBS-owned promotion’s 2021 schedule and takes place inside a “bubble” created after the coronavirus pandemic forced a four-month pause to live events.
“We are proud to be the new home of BELLATOR and delighted to share this debut event with millions of non-subscribers,” stated Showtime Sports and Event Programming President Stephen Espinoza in a press release. “Bellator has steadily built the strongest roster in its history and now includes some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.”
Freire owns a knockout win over three-time lightweight champ Michael Chandler, who will vie for the vacant UFC lightweight title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 on May 15. Freire defeated Sanchez in their first meeting at Bellator 209 in November 2018.
The full fight card streaming on MMA Fighting is restricted to U.S. and Canada only. Showtime recently announced the broadcast team for the event, which includes grand prix finalist A.J. McKee.