Sportsnet delivers a one-two punch this week as Canada’s official home of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® brings fans the can’t-miss two-hour premiere episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 tonight at 8 p.m. PT on Sportsnet Pacific and Midnight local time on Sportsnet East, Ontario and West. UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson rounds out the hard-hitting week for UFC on Sportsnet with live coverage of the preliminary and main card fights from Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 26 beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE and and streamed live on sportsnet.ca.
Kicking off its 17th season, The Ultimate Fighter heats up in its new timeslot on Tuesday nights, featuring the charismatic and fierce light-heavyweight foes Jon “Bones” Jones and Chael Sonnen as rival coaches. Over the course of the 13-week run, Jones and Sonnen will guide 28 amateur mixed martial artists through high-octane, gruelling competition to find the next Ultimate Fighter.
Heading into the weekend, Sportsnet primes fans for UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson, where UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson makes his first ever title defense against The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 winner John Dodson. With no shortage of star power, the night’s co-main event features former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson taking on the heavy-handed Glover Teixeira, while Anthony Pettis meets the always exciting Donald Cerrone in an explosive lightweight matchup.
Sportsnet’s coverage of The Ultimate Fighter and UFC on Sportsnet extends across television, digital, and radio platforms. Below are the key highlights from each platform:
TV – Sportsnet
The Ultimate Fighter
- The popular show kicks off its 17th season with a two-hour premiere tonight at 8 p.m. PT on Sportsnet Pacific and at Midnight local time on Sportsnet East, Ontario and West, with encore presentations on Wednesday, Jan. 23 in prime time at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet East and Ontario
- Sportsnet will provide coverage of each episode of TUF Season 17 in its new timeslot on Tuesday nights, with encore presentations on Wednesdays in prime time (check sportsnet.ca or local television listings for most up-to-date schedule information)
UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson
- UFC on Sportsnet kicks off with live coverage of the preliminary fights beginning Saturday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE
- Following the prelims, Sportsnet present the main card of UFC on Sportsnet at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE
- “Showdown” Joe Ferraro provides a full breakdown and highlights from UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson on UFC Central on Monday, Jan. 28 at 11:30 p.m. local time on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific
Digital – sportsnet.ca
The Ultimate Fighter
- Fans can stay up to date with the series by heading to sportsnet.ca, where Sportsnet digital editor Mike Johnston provides full recaps and analysis following each episode
UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson
- sportsnet.ca will provide live streaming of the following:
o UFC on Sportsnet official pre-fight weigh-ins on Friday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
o Additional preliminary fight coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, Jan. 26
- For the latest news, blogs, and updates heading into Saturday’s fights, fans can head to sportsnet.ca for coverage from insiders Ferraro, Dwight Wakabayashi, Perry Lefko, E. Spencer Kyte and James Brydo
Radio – Sportsnet 590 The FAN
- Ferraro covers all the news from the octagon, including a recap of the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter and a full preview of UFC on Sportsnet: Johnson vs. Dodson on a special edition of UFC Central Radio on Friday, Jan. 25 at 1 a.m. ET on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. Fans can also access full episodes of UFC Central Radio on sportsnet.ca/590/
