Meta partners with UFC to bring MMA to Horizon Worlds

VR sports app Xtadium will also broadcast live fights in 180 degrees.

Meta本周宣布，它正在与Ultimate Fighting Championship（UFC）合作，这是大型职业混合武术（MMA）推广活动之一，在Meta的社交VR元宇宙Horizon Worlds中提供原创体验。

Here, you'll be able to watch immersive 180-degree matches in 4K resolution with fellow MMA enthusiasts. Between matches, you can discuss your favorite players with other users, and unlock exclusive rewards by participating in various single-player and multiplayer mini-games.

"There is hardly any competition in all of sports that can rival a good MMA fight," said Craig Borsari, UFC's chief content officer and executive producer, in Meta's official blog post. "We've been looking for ways to capture this experience and share it with fans who don't have access to the arena. Over the years, we've done this by giving fans around the world the opportunity to interact with our content, whether it's in person, live or on social media. , to promote the development of our sport."

"Now, Meta's Horizon Worlds will elevate the level of fan engagement and community building," he added. "Meta by Meta Quest 2Pioneering VR technology, it will make you feel like you are standing on the deck of the Octagon, shoulder to shoulder with our photographers. Worlds, meanwhile, provides an immersive social environment where fans can meet and chat in real time. Nowhere else can MMA fans find a similar experience. "

However, the MMA excitement doesn't stop there. In addition to Horizon Worlds, UFC fights will be broadcast live in 4K 180 degrees via the VR sports app Xtadium, which offers live, on-demand and on-demand sports events. UFC FIGHT PASS subscribers can access additional UFC Pay View cards and other original content through the app.

“Mixed Martial Arts is an intense, fast-paced sport where moves can change quickly and the stakes can change in seconds,” said Sebastian Amengual, CTO and co-founder of YBVR. “VR elevates the visuals by providing an up-close, immersive viewing experience. Watching a game on a flat screen is one thing, but virtual cageside, feeling the intimacy of the players and the raw energy of the game is a completely different experience. "

“Furthermore, MMA is a one-on-one sport, uses enclosed fighting areas (such as octagonal cages), and has a variety of fighting angles, which are very suitable for VR. A particularly compelling broadcast," he added.

For more information on Meta's partnership with UFC, and a detailed schedule of fights that will be broadcast live via Xtadium, check out the official Metablog post. Considering Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is an avid MMA practitioner, it's reasonable to expect to see more combat sports entertainment on the Meta Quest platform in the future.