Shark Fights Inks Deal With FUEL TV

Working its way up the food chain, Shark Fight Promotions on Friday announced that they have signed a deal with FUEL TV.

The Texas-based mixed martial arts promotion will be part of “FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night” programming. Shark Fights 13 will air in two one-hour episodes, one on April 15, the other on April 22.

Shark Fights 13 originally took place on Sept. 11, featuring Paul Daley, Keith Jardine, Trevor Prangley, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Houston Alexander, Danillo Villefort, and Joey Villasenor.

“We are honored to be part of ‘FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night,’” said Shark Fight’s president Brent Medley. “Shark Fights 13 contenders delivered an electrifying night of fights on Sept. 11 and we are very excited about the event’s television network debut. It gives us another opportunity to promote the fighters and gives fight fans a second chance to catch the action if they missed it the first time around.”

At this point in time, the Shark Fights deal with FOX’s FUEL TV is solely for the Shark Fights 13 highlight shows. The two parties have not committed to anything further at this point in time, although Medley is happy with the deal.

“For right now the FUEL TV deal strictly pertains to Shark Fights 13 airing as part of ‘FUEL TV’s Friday Fight Night,’” Medley said in a statement to MMAWeekly.com. “We are very excited that Shark Fights 13 will be making its television network debut on FUEL TV. Words cannot express how happy we are to align ourselves with the FOX family. Everyone at Shark Fight Promotions is very excited about what the future holds. 2011 is going to be a stellar year!”

(UPDATED 9:45 a.m. PT on April 3, 2011, to clarify details of the broadcast deal beyond Shark Fights 13.)