Entire Bellator 255 Card to Air Free of Charge to Non-Showtime Subscribers

If you don’t have a Showtime subscription and don’t plan on purchasing one, you’ll still be able to watch Bellator 255 on Friday night.

The California-based promotion announced Wednesday that the Bellator 255 main card will air free of charge to viewers in the United States on streaming services Pluto TV, Hulu, YouTube and FuboTV, as well as via participating television providers.

The entire 13-bout card, which features an eight-bout preliminary lineup, will also stream live on Showtime and the Bellator MMA YouTube channel, per a release.

“We are proud to be the new home of Bellator and delighted to share this debut event with millions of non-subscribers,” said Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza. “Bellator has steadily built the strongest roster in its history and now includes some of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. On Friday night, we will introduce new fans to this premier brand of mixed martial arts and invite them to our network, which along with world-class championship boxing now boasts more than 40 live combat sports events per year. Showtime Sports premium fight coverage and signature storytelling sets the standard in combat sports and, coupled with our leading entertainment content, the value of the Showtime subscription is now unrivaled for combat sports fans.”

Going forward, Bellator MMA events will air exclusively on Showtime, and in conjunction with that partnership, the network is offering a 30-day free trial followed by a discounted subscription fee of $4.99 per month for the ensuing six months.

Bellator 255 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and is headlined by a featherweight grand prix semifinal between reigning champion Patricio Freire and Emmanuel Sanchez. The prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT, while the main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. ET.