UFC 129 Will Air One Hour Earlier

Photo by Josh Hedges, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Article from http://www.bloodyelbow.com/

Those of you who have been complaining that UFC main events start after your bedtime, Dana White has heard your pleas. The UFC has announced that UFC 129 will begin a full hour earlier than normal. With UFC 129 preliminary fights on Spike TV and likely on Facebook too, fans intent on catching all the action will have to make early dinner plans.

Those who fear that the main event between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields will be a snooze-fest have one less excuse should they doze off during a lull in the action.

Mike Chiapetta reports that it might not just be a one-time deal:

...The UFC is quietly contemplating a change to move up the start times of its pay-per-broadcasts one hour, MMA Fighting las learned.

No Final decision has been yet been made, though a source in the organization has confirmed to MMA Fighting that they are "considering the move for all events."

Two sources confirmed that at least one date will definitely be impacted. The change will be in play for the first time at April's massive UFC 129 event in Toronto which will take place on April 30. On that night, the pay-per-view telecast will begin at 9pm ET/6pm PT, one hour ahead of its usual time...

I'm curious if the UFC is doing this as a work-around against Bellator. The upstart promotion is airing events live on Spike TV's fellow Viacom-owned channel MTV2 and has announced plans to start earlier on UFC nights. With the UFC making so many preliminary fights available so early, Bellator will be in a pinch. I wonder if MTV2 is interested in airing live MMA at 6pm ET?

UPDATE: BE reader Rich Hansen points out that there won't be a Bellator event on March 30th. Nevermind.

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