MMA league Kumite ties up with PVR & Sony for live broadcast
MUMBAI- Mohamedali Budhwani, owner and CMD of Toyam Industries, is confident of breaking records with his brainchild — Kumite 1League, a mixed martial arts (MMA) league that will pit teams of different nations against each other.
Budhwani, who last month had signed up former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson as mentor and face of the league, has now partnered with broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and multiplex major PVR to live telecast the fight night between teams of India and UAE on September 29.
“From the time we signed Mike Tyson last month, our phones haven’t stopped ringing. The response is exceptionally overwhelming from fighters, sponsors, broadcaster and various prospective team owners,” Budhwani told ET.
“Sony Pictures and PVR are already on board. SPN will live telecast the matches on its sports channels, while PVR will screen the matches of first bout across multiple screens in nine cities.”
A full-contact combat sport, MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. American company, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is now valued at over $5 billion, while Singapore-based 7-year-old ONE Championship is already valued at over $1 billion. But, in India, MMA is gradually finding its fan following. In recent times, popularity of UFC and other contact sports have risen, whereas Bollywood films such as ‘Brothers’ and ‘Sultan’ have also helped in creating more awareness about the sport.
Budhwani, who last month had signed up former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson as mentor and face of the league, has now partnered with broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) and multiplex major PVR to live telecast the fight night between teams of India and UAE on September 29.
“From the time we signed Mike Tyson last month, our phones haven’t stopped ringing. The response is exceptionally overwhelming from fighters, sponsors, broadcaster and various prospective team owners,” Budhwani told ET.
“Sony Pictures and PVR are already on board. SPN will live telecast the matches on its sports channels, while PVR will screen the matches of first bout across multiple screens in nine cities.”
A full-contact combat sport, MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. American company, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is now valued at over $5 billion, while Singapore-based 7-year-old ONE Championship is already valued at over $1 billion. But, in India, MMA is gradually finding its fan following. In recent times, popularity of UFC and other contact sports have risen, whereas Bollywood films such as ‘Brothers’ and ‘Sultan’ have also helped in creating more awareness about the sport.
Are you a Business Owner? Get Your Free Business Listing on Economic Times.
Register Now