Just two months after the launch of the English Premier League, SHOWTIME has announced the launch on October 1st of SHOWSPORTS 4, the new home of fight leagues and crash sports.

By introducing the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's leading mixed martial arts sports association, SHOWTIME strengthens its fighting league line-up to complement its award winning WWE broadcast.

Ultimate Fighting is defined as a mixed martial arts competition between high level professional fighters who utilize the disciplines of jiu-jitsu, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and other forms in UFC live events. UFC competitors or 'Ultimate Fighters' are among the best-trained and conditioned athletes in the world. While this is a highly intense sport, fighter safety is of paramount concern and it is noteworthy that no competitor has ever been seriously injured in a UFC event.

'Spectacular sports entertainment shows are a global phenomenon, with the success of WWE being the best evidence of this,' said Andy Warkman Head of Sports. 'Fight sports and in particular UFC brings the best of the best athletes, many of whom are World or Olympic champions together in an adrenalin packed format that will be unique to this region and SHOWTIME. Our ability to provide another sports channel extends an already exhaustive offering to include boxing, motor sports, additional WWE (Heat, Bottom Line and ECW) and even more LIVE coverage again, reaffirming SHOWTIME as a true destination for sports in the region' said Warkman.

In addition to the fights and the Pay Per View events, Showtime has signed an eight season deal for the Ultimate Fighter series, a reality show where fighters that have yet to make a name for themselves compete with each other for the title of Ultimate Fighter and a six figure, multi-fight contract with the UFC.