Millions of fans of mixed martial arts who follow the action of the UFC and all its superstars. Although the UFC is becoming a global phenomenon, there are some broadcasting restrictions that affect viewers in certain locations. Due the way in which broadcasting rights are granted, some fights are blacked out in specific countries. Even those who pay for a Fight Pass monthly subscription may discover that it doesn’t give them access to all the live fights. The blackout restrictions are not consistent and they are implemented on a fight by fight basis. If you have a Fight pass subscription an your location is affected by the blocks, you will only see an error message when you try to stream an UFC event.
The error message that greets those who attempt to watch a fight from a blacked out location simply states that the video is not available in their region. UFC Fight Pass subscribers and even those who rely on pay-per-view services, can come across this message. The only alternative that is offered in this cases is to look for the local TV channel that holds the broadcast rights. In many cases, this would involve paying for a subscription to that service or channel. This can be particularly frustrating for users who already paid for a subscription to watch the fight through UFC.tv. Furthermore, many local providers don’t offer the quality and user-friendly experience that you UFC.tv supports.
Many third-party services that show the fights don’t offer viewers the possibility of watching replays on demand. This can be specially inconvenient for fans outside the United States due to the time difference. For example, if you are in Europe, you may need to get up very early or stay up until very late in order to watch a fight that starts in the US in the evening. While UFC.tv offers the possibility of watching replays so that you can watch the fight at a more suitable time, it is likely that local provider that have the broadcast rights don’t offer this option. Luckily, there are ways to get around the blackouts and enjoy the high quality and features that UFC.tv offers, no matter where you are.
Using a VPN or Smart DNS to bypass UFC blackouts
With a VPN or smart DNS service you will be able to bypass the blackouts and won’t need to look for a local provider instead of taking advantage of your Fight Pass subscription. By changing your IP address to make you appear as if you were located in the United States, a VPN or smart DNS service can give you access to UFC events without hassle. When you use these technologies, your real IP address is masked and other websites and services that you try to access will only see the IP address of the service you are using.
Although there are some free solutions, it is advisable to opt for paid services as they are faster, more reliable and provide better performance. There are many affordable options and you will be able to defeat restrictions not only to watch UFC fights, but also to access many other applications and services that may be blocked in your location. While you would need to pay for a subscription, it is an investment worth making since it will give you versatility. If you sign up for a VPN service, you will enjoy additional security.
You just need to sign up, download and install the VPN client on your device. Then you can connect to a server in the US or in any location where the fight is available. Keep in mind that by connecting to servers that are closer to your actual location, you will be able to enjoy better speeds. Once you are connected to the server of your choice, you can go to UFC.tv, log in to the service using your Fight Pass details and start streaming the fight without coming across blocks.
In the case of smart DNS, you need to go to the provider’s website and locate the main and the alternate IP addresses for the DNS servers in your preferred location. Then, you will have to follow your provider’s instructions to change your device’s default DNS servers to the new ones. After restarting the device, go to UFC.tv and log in using your credentials to get access to the fight, regardless of your location.
With the process mentioned above, you will be able to stream live pay-per-view fights, but you may need to select a server in the same location as the PPV provider. While smart DNS proxies offer great compatibility, VPNs are recommended due to to the fact that they are easier to set up and that they offer a higher level of security. The encryption applied by a VPN will help to keep your online traffic protected from multiple threats such as eavesdroppers and hackers. It gives you privacy, as well as the possibility of defeating geographical restrictions. Any of the below services would be a good choice to bypass the blackouts that prevent you from watching UFC fights.
ExpressVPN
One of the best aspects of ExpressVPN is its fast performance, which enables you to stream MMA fights and other content, without experiencing significant delays. The service is also known for offering a high level of security and for helping you to keep your privacy protected. They have servers in over 90 countries and your online activities are not logged.
VPNArea
VPNArea has servers in over 60 countries and it is another provider known for its fast performance. They also pay special attention to security and support a selection of features that will keep your information safe. When you subscribe to VPNArea you get protection against DNS leaks and IPV6 leaks, as well as a kill switch to ensure that your real IP address is not exposed.
PureVPN
PureVPN has servers in 141 countries, which allows it to stand apart from other providers in the market. They don’t keep logs of your online traffic and thanks to the high level of encryption offered, you can keep your personal data secure. There are over 750 servers in PureVPN’s network and you can enjoy great speeds to stream live fights and other geo-restricted content, no matter where you are located.
Buffered
With Buffered, you will be able to stream UFC events seamlessly and without worrying about geographical restrictions. Advanced technology and security are other reasons to choose Buffered. At the moment, they have servers in over 30 countries and you can expect fast speeds for streaming, gaming and other activities. In addition, Buffered doesn’t keep logs of your online activities.