WSOF Signs 3-Year Deal with NBC Sports, Arlovski-'Rumble' to Headline March 23 Event

The promotion will hold six events per year on the network, beginning with WSOF 2, which takes place on March 23 at Revel Resorts & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Sources close to the event recently told Sherdog.com that the WSOF 2 card will feature an Andrei Arlovski-Anthony Johnson main event. No bouts have been officially revealed by the promotion.

The release also stated that NBCSports.com will stream events later in 2013, although an exact date was not specified.

“We are thrilled to call NBC Sports Network the home of World Series of Fighting,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo. “This partnership will allow us to build the World Series of Fighting brand of world-class MMA competition before a dedicated national audience of passionate sports fans and place our athletes on the big stage that they deserve.”

WSOF debuted with a 10-bout offering on Nov. 3 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In the evening’s main event, Arlovskiknocked out Devin Cole in the first round, while Johnson stopped D.J. Linderman in the opening frame in a light heavyweight co-feature. According to an industry source, WSOF averaged 198,000 viewers on the NBC Sports Network for its inaugural event.