"FOX reached out to us and started these conversations months ago about the potential of developing this deal," Rebney told ♣ MMAjunkie.com.

The promotion on Tuesday announced a partnership with FOX Sports Latin America that covers 50 million homes in 19 Latin ♣ American countries, including Brazil.

The deal calls for taped programming through 2014 and 25 live "in-territory" events annually starting in 2015.

The ♣ news came as something of a surprise given the UFC's relationship with FOX, which is in the second year of ♣ a seven-year broadcast deal with the promotion.

The UFC is one of seven "pillars" of sports programming on the new FOX ♣ Sports 1 cable network, which airs its live events and shoulder programming.