Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman's MMA promotion inks crucial media rights deal

Former NFL prima Shawne Merriman’s mixed martial arts promotion inked a media rights woody with ESPN connected Wednesday, marking a immense measurement guardant for the company.

Lights Out Xtreme Fighting’s multiyear statement with ESPN volition bring the company’s afloat combat docket to fans successful Latin America, the institution said. ESPN volition get exclusive determination rights to broadcast events successful English, Spanish and Portuguese to countries successful South America and the Caribbean.

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Rapper Snoop Dogg (left) with Shawne Merriman during the Colorado State Rams crippled against the Miami (OH) RedHawks successful the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl astatine Arizona Stadium connected Dec. 28, 2024. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

"Since launching Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, our ngo has been to physique a level for fighters and fans," Merriman said successful a quality release. "Partnering with ESPN crossed Latin America is simply a large milestone for us. Latin America has immoderate of the astir passionate combat communities successful the world. Showcasing our athletes done ESPN and Disney+ takes the Lights Out acquisition to an wholly caller stage."

LXF 29 volition beryllium the archetypal lawsuit aired arsenic portion of the deal. Pablo Caballero volition conflict Corvan Allen for the flyweight satellite rubric portion Eduardo Alvarado volition instrumentality connected Shane Torres arsenic portion of the co-main event.

Merriman spoke to Fox News Digital past period astir the maturation of Lights Out Xtreme Fighting and what the absorption volition beryllium successful the future.

Shawne Merriman spoke to Fox News Digital astir caller innovative happenings astatine Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. (Robert Hanashiro, USAT, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

EX-NFL STAR SHAWNE MERRIMAN EXPLAINS WHY HIS MMA PROMOTION HAS NO INTEREST IN COMPETING WITH UFC

He made wide that he’s not trying to vie with the likes of UFC.

"We ne'er looked to compete. We’re creating. We don’t privation to vie with the UFC. We don’t care," helium said. "We cognize there’s different promotions and different organizations retired determination trying to vie with the UFC.

Shawne Merriman, erstwhile NFL and Maryland Terrapins linebacker, is recognized connected the tribunal for his foundation Lights On Foundation's during the 2nd fractional of the crippled against the George Washington Colonials astatine Xfinity Center connected Nov. 11, 2021. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)

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"In my opinion, I don’t deliberation determination volition beryllium anybody bigger than the UFC, and there’s a batch of promotions that are conscionable trying to walk their mode to the apical with money. Just outspend their mode and not (having success). We are (successful) due to the fact that we’ve been much businesslike and we are an incubator. We’re not trying to vie with anybody. We’re a hub for this technology, this information and these large fights, and for guys to spell into the UFC erstwhile they go champions for Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. That’s wherever we are."

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