Further solidifying the rift between the UFC and its longtime cable partner, Spike TV today announced counter-programming for the UFC's debut on network TV.

On Nov. 12, Spike TV will air a "UFC Unleashed" marathon – dubbed "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez: Unleashed for the Heavyweight Title" – featuring past fights with UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

Not surprisingly, the marathon begins just as Velasquez and Dos Santos fight at UFC on FOX 1, the UFC's first show on network TV.

The event kicks off a monumental seven-year deal between the UFC and FOX. As part of the deal, which includes four annual events on FOX, other UFC programming such as "The Ultimate Fighter" and UFC Fight Night events will move from Spike TV to FOX-owned FX and FUEL TV.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, Spike TV still has the rights to the UFC library in 2012, and unless the UFC buys back the rights (which is unlikely), Spike TV likely will counter-program FOX's live content with archived content. (Coincidentally, unless the UFC buys back the rights, Bellator, which now streams its prelims on Spike.com, can't move from MTV2 to Spike TV until 2013.)

UFC on FOX 1 takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The one-hour FOX broadcast features just the title fight (full-blown events don't start on FOX until 2012). UFC officials have not announced broadcast plans for the preliminary card, which also includes Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida.

Spike TV's full Nov. 12 schedule includes:

9 p.m. ET/PT

* Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader
* Junior Dos Santos vs. Shane Carwin
* Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar

10 p.m. ET/PT

* Junior Dos Santos vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
* Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes France
* Thiago Silva vs. Keith Jardine

11 p.m. ET/PT

* Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira
* Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
* Pat Barry vs Antoni Hardonk
* Mark Munoz vs Kendall Grove


Source: Spike TV to counter-program UFC on FOX 1 with Velasquez and Dos Santos fights

While the hardcores will glance over that news, most MMA casual fans are not aware whether live or not especially when you think of the UFC you think of Spike TV. This was most present when a Nate Marquardt marathon on Spike beat a live event on Versus in the ratings department. This though should prove useless with the ads on FOX seen by a much larger demographic in the millions.

Dana wasnt happy at all about Spikes ideas... guess this is his retaliation hehehe.

Pretty much I heard rumblings that Dana might even block Bellator on Spike. That would be a dickish move

I thought Bellator was good for UFC!?! Where are fighters going to grow and become professionals if there are no alternatives and promotions that pay a decent paycheck, are well managed and broadcasted? Where will fighters come from if there are nothing but one elite organisation lol?

Think Dana!

One word, Strikeforce. Ever since Zuffa's acquisition, I had hoped the brand would remain active as a minor league to UFC. Have weekly (or bi-monthly) events that are shown on whatever Fox network that would have it. All the up & comers can prove themselves there before making the jump to UFC. Hell, fighters that are in a UFC slump could drop down to SF before being cut all together. I know this would move would piss off die hard SF fans, but I think I would work really well.

Thats what I had hoped for too, but the feeling one gets is that Strikeforce days are counted. There is not one Strikeforce event in the whole month of october, while there are multiple Bellator events. If you are a fighter you need to fight to pay your bills, not sit and wait.