Bellator MMA cards usually don’t air live in the United Kingdom, but Bellator 206 was a rare exception. The main card was broadcast on over-the-air network Channel 5, but unfortunately fans who stayed up through the middle of the night just had their “Heidi game” moment.
As was a point of issue for fans on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, the pacing of Bellator 206’s main card wasn’t exactly warp speed. In fact, despite five finishes out of six fights, the main event between Gegard Mousasi and Rory MacDonald ended well past 1 AM ET. Channel 5 viewers never saw Mousasi’s TKO finish of MacDonald, because Bellator ran over the three-hour timeslot and viewers were soon “treated” to an episode of the children’s television program, Peppa Pig.
It’s definitely a raw deal to stay up until 6 AM local time only to see… well… something other than Bellator on the screen. This is a major fail by someone. In case you’re wondering, Channel 5 is owned by Viacom, the same company that owns Bellator MMA. Reaction to the unexpected switcheroo can be viewed below.
Wait is this for real? Is channel 5 after cutting away from Bellator right now?
— Nate (@NateGuildea) September 30, 2018
Oh no… Bellator over ran on Channel 5, the main event has been pre-empted for early morning programming #Bellator206
— Catch Wrestling U (@CatchWrestling) September 30, 2018
This is channel 5 right now #Bellator206 pic.twitter.com/8nRA5tbn7Z
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) September 30, 2018
Channel 5 swapped Bellator for Peppa Pig at 6am. I’m going to bed.
— Harry Williams (@Harry_Williams) September 30, 2018
@ScottCoker WTF channel 5 cuts off as the main event starts, get your act together. Stayed up until 6am to watch that fight. Thanks for nothing. This isn’t helping the Bellator brand at all.
— The Runaways (@TheRunaways2015) September 30, 2018
@channel5_tv
Pethetic UK TV Channel 5 stay up all night then goes off as the main even bellator 206 starts for Peppa pig wtf? Wankers— Oberon (@RyanLeaSinclair) September 30, 2018
Channel 5 has just cut away from the bellator main event for fucking peppa pig
— Con Friel (@Friel19_) September 30, 2018
Channel 5 right now. This is like some sort of sick joke.
#Bellator206 pic.twitter.com/ZxUfOPLzIi
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) September 30, 2018
That was my first time watching Bellator but won’t get to see the main event as Channel 5’s broadcast ended right before it started! So many angry tweets haha #Bellator206
— Ray-Ray (@RayVersionTwo) September 30, 2018
Why have channel 5 fucked the bellator main event off for Peppa pig
— Dylan Oliver (@dylanoliverr) September 30, 2018
@ScottCoker dump Channel 5 in the UK. I sat up until 6am only for them to cut to Peppa f****** Pig! Disgusted. There was me thinking Bellator finally took us seriously here! Raging. #Bellator206
— Mark Chisholm (@JethartJinj) September 30, 2018
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