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Former NFL star Shawne Merriman’s mixed martial arts promotion inked a media rights deal with ESPN on Wednesday, marking a major step forward for the company.
Lights Out Xtreme Fighting’s multi-year deal with ESPN will bring the company’s full fight schedule to fans in Latin America, the company said. ESPN gets exclusive regional rights to broadcast events in English, Spanish and Portuguese to countries in South America and the Caribbean.
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Rapper Snoop Dogg (left) with Shawne Merriman during the Colorado State Rams game against the Miami (OH) RedHawks in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium on December 28, 2024. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
“Since we launched Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, our mission has been to build a platform for fighters and fans,” Merriman said in a press release. “Partnering with ESPN across Latin America is a huge milestone for us. Latin America has some of the most passionate fighting communities in the world. Showcasing our athletes through ESPN and Disney+ takes the Lights Out experience to a whole new stage.”
LXF 29 will be the first event to be broadcast as part of the deal. Pablo Caballero will fight Corvan Allen for the world flyweight title, while Eduardo Alvarado will take on Shane Torres as part of the co-main event.
Merriman spoke with Pakinomist Digital last month about the growth of Lights Out Xtreme Fighting and what the focus will be going forward.
Shawne Merriman spoke with Pakinomist Digital about new innovative events at 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 it clear that he is not trying to compete with the likes of the UFC.
“We never sought to compete. We create. We don’t want to compete with the UFC. We don’t care,” he said. “We know there are other promotions and other organizations out there trying to compete with the UFC.
Former NFL and Maryland Terrapins linebacker Shawne Merriman is recognized on the field for his charity Lights On Foundation’s during the second half of the game against the George Washington Colonials at Xfinity Center on Nov. 11, 2021. (Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)
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“In my opinion, I don’t think there’s going to be anybody bigger than the UFC and there’s a lot of promotions that are just trying to spend their way to the top with money. Just spending their way and not (being successful). We’re (successful) because we’ve been more efficient and we’re an incubator. We’re not trying to compete with anybody and we’re fighting with this technology, for this technology and for this technology. guys to go into the UFC when they become champions of Lights Out Xtreme Fighting. That’s there we are.
