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MMAPayout’s Adam Swift is reporting UFC and ESPN execs are rumored to have met recently regarding a “strategic partnership”:

While Spike is the official cable home of the UFC, there is no longer an ABC Sports division, only ESPN on ABC, leading to speculation that such a partnership could lead to live events on ABC.

Swift applied a giant “unconfirmed” sticker to the report, but on its face this type of partnership is along the lines of the long-term, big picture thinking Zuffa brass has shown a penchant for. ESPN and ABC both are high-profile networks under the Disney Co. banner and reach a potentially higher number of households than the EliteXC/CBS-SHOWTIME or Strikeforce/NBC deals. Both are available in almost all basic packages, traditionally cater to varying demographics and are highly-regarded in sports programming and production.

On a more subjective note, a clearly defined MMA segment on ESPN’s news programs will score a ton of legitimacy points. SportsCenter is the gold standard of sports news programming and already touches on most big-time MMA events. The regular insertion of MMA-centric segments would go a long away in the wider acceptance of a misunderstood and much-maligned combat sport.

Of course, Dana White and Co.’s track record with the major network is dodgy to say the least, usually stemming from issues of production control. However, if this rumor is credible it suits the UFC’s desire for a smarter, wider-spanning deal than those signed by its competitors.

For more on this story, stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com!