Spike TV to show 12 “UFC Prelims” in 2011

Last week Spike TV announced that it would air “UFC Prelims” for 12 UFC PPVs in 2011. The first one hour prelim show will be this Saturday prior to UFC 126.

According to the Spike TV release, “Spike has aired 13 “UFC Prelims,” beginning with UFC 103 in September 2009, with an average viewership of 1.5 million.”

UFC 127 will not air a UFC Prelim show on Spike TV although bouts will be shown on ESPN in the UK. MMA Junkie speculates that the UFC may go another route (UFC.com, Facebook, ION) in showing prelims.

I expect they will always use an alternative route from this point on to get prelims shown. I've got no problem with ION or ufc.com

12 prelims meaning 12 events or just 12 fights, because 12 event prelims is still a big number

12 events but they'll probably put on about 20

12 cards so figure one a month.