THE UFC has made it to network prime time.
Mixed martial arts' dominant promotional company announced a landmark, 7-year deal with Fox yesterday, putting four UFC shows on the main network each year and an extensive array of programming on its cable networks. The UFC will become a prominent feature on FX, with live fights on most Friday nights and a revamped version of "The Ultimate Fighter," the UFC's popular reality show.
UFC president Dana White said the deal is the biggest step yet in MMA's transformation from a banned fringe sport into a mainstream entertainment property.
Fox will allow the UFC to control its own production, a longtime stumbling block in White's negotiations with network TV over the past several years.
Although the four Fox shows are the centerpiece of the deal, the bulk of the UFC's programming will be on FX in nearly 100 million homes.
Pro Basketball *
ESPN analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose was released from a suburban Detroit jail after serving time for drunken driving. Rose, 38, was released from the Oakland County Jail after 16 days behind bars.
* Scotty Robertson, a former Louisiana Tech coach and the first coach of the NBA's New Orleans Jazz, has died. Robertson, who had battled cancer in addition to a stroke last year, was 81.
Sport Stops *
Jeff Sluman shot a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Senior Players Championship in Harrison, N.Y.
* New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac had surgery to repair his left Achilles' tendon and will miss at least 6 weeks of the regular season. Zajack was injured Wednesday in an off-ice training session.
* Delaware's Elena Delle Donne scored 17 points as the United States blasted Finland, 96-30, in the quarterfinals of the World University games.