The distributor announced an agreement to market and distribute events from Flex Fight Series, an MMA promotion based in New York.
Telefilms has announced a strategic agreement to acquire the commercialization and exhibition rights for Flex Fight Series (FFS), the New York-based Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, in a move that reflects how distribution companies are increasingly diversifying their catalogs toward live content with high engagement potential.
The partnership includes the addition of at least 15 live MMA events per year broadcast from New York City, expanding Telefilms’ offering beyond film and traditional entertainment at a time when live sports continues to establish itself as one of the most valuable assets for streaming platforms and linear networks.
The agreement also underscores the growing interest among distributors in sports formats capable of attracting younger audiences, driving real-time consumption and generating social media interaction — three key factors in today’s battle for audience attention and subscriber retention.
“MMA continues to position itself as one of the fastest-growing sports globally, especially in markets such as Brazil and Mexico, where younger audiences have embraced it as one of their main sports consumption choices,” the company noted.
According to Tomás Darcyl and Ricardo Costianovsky, the appeal of Flex Fight Series lies in its combination of frequency, urban identity and audience appeal, elements that are particularly valuable today for OTT services and broadcasters prioritizing live programming and recurring content.
“We are looking for content that connects with new audiences and drives real-time interaction on social media. Flex Fight Series is pure action under an innovative concept and has an ideal positioning for Gen Z and Millennials,” the executives said.
Another strategic aspect of the agreement will be the inclusion of Latin fighters on every card, a decision aimed at strengthening the connection with Spanish-speaking audiences, considered one of the key drivers of global MMA consumption alongside the US market.
With this deal, Telefilms joins a growing trend within the audiovisual industry: the expansion of distribution and entertainment companies into the live sports business, fueled by the genre’s ability to sustain massive audiences, generate social conversation and offer events that are difficult to replicate in an on-demand environment.
