ESPN2 To Continue Carrying MMA Live

Received a press release today from ESPN that ESPN2 will continue carrying the ESPN.com-produced “MMA Live” through August. The network started airing the series this month and judging from this release, feels comfortable taking more shows through the summer.

Here’s the release.

ESPN2 to Continue Televising ESPN.com’s MMA Live Show

After airing episodes for the first time this May, ESPN2 will continue to televise ESPN.com’s produced and distributed weekly MMA Live series dedicated to news, highlights and analysis from the sport of mixed martial arts through August, 2010. ESPN2 will continue to provide the first airing of the weekly MMA Live series Fridays at 1 a.m. ET (Thursday at 10 p.m. PT) with the ESPN.com version, featuring additional content, available shortly after the ESPN2 telecast.

As previously scheduled, ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN.com’s MMA Live at UFC 114 Sunday, May 30, at 1 a.m. (Saturday at 10 p.m. PT). Future simulcasts of MMA Live specials originating from event sites are to be determined. MMA Live host Jon Anik, analysts Kenny Florian and Randy Couture, ESPN.com MMA Insider Franklin McNeil, and correspondent Molly Qerim will work the telecasts. Couture is an analyst in place of Rashad Evans who will compete in the UFC 114 event.

MMA Live launched on ESPN.com in 2008 and ESPN2 first began televising the popular series in May 2010 with four episodes of the weekly news and highlights program, on-site pre- and post-event specials surrounding UFC 113 on May 8 and May 9, and the post-event show following UFC 114.

In addition to ESPN.com, ESPN has offered mixed martial arts news, interviews, highlights, stories, discussion and weigh-ins across multiple platforms, including ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, SportsCenter, E:60, SportsNation, First Take and more.

So MMA fans continue to have a weekly destination for the next few months.