By FCF Staff

Just days removed from the news that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has signed a broadcast deal with Fox, ending its lengthy relationship with Spike, the latter has announced that it will be streaming Bellator’s upcoming preliminary bouts on the network’s official website.

Spike.com will be airing all the preliminary fights for Bellator’s upcoming, 12 week season, beginning September 10^th.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Spike.com,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. “The Spike brand is synonymous with mixed martial arts worldwide and is another member of the MTV family, who does an incredible job in resonating with the hard-to-reach 18-to-34-year-old male audience.”

With the UFC now having moved to Fox, there has been considerable speculation as to whether Spike would look to acquire new MMA content, and further, whether Bellator would be that provider. While today’s announcement did not include any details regarding a possible broadcasting deal between the two companies, the online agreement could be the first step towards entrenching a partnership for 2012.

Bellator’s current broadcast partner, MTV 2, is owned by MTV Networks, the parent company for Spike.

The September 10^th, Bellator 49 card will be hosted by Caeser’s in Atlantic City, and will feature the opening round of the promotion’s welterweight tournament