We have some very bad news for UFC Fight Pass subscribers in the Republic of Ireland

It's getting harder and harder to watch UFC events live.

While the renewal of the UFC's broadcast deal with BT Sport is a good thing, Virgin's decision to ditch their BT Sport package has left their customers without any UFC coverage. Many fell back on their subscriptions to UFC Fight Pass, in particular for non-numbered cards like UFC Salt Lake City on Saturday night. Well, in a statement from Eric Winter, UFC Senior Vice President and General Manager of UFC Fight Pass, it's been revealed that no main card coverage will be shown live on Fight Pass anymore. While the Fight Pass prelims and main prelims will be featured on the online service, main cards will now only be shown 48 hours after the event. The bright side of the update is that main cards of pay-per-view shows will also reach Fight Pass 48 hours after the event which is a significantly shorter turnaround than has been the case thus far. But fans remain wholly disappointed by the fact that now the only way to watch a UFC main card live will be on BT Sport, as it has also been revealed that buying pay-per views online is no longer possible. With just two weeks until UFC 202, plenty of Irish fans were relying on purchasing the event online and there is a lot of anger about the timing of the decision to eliminate that option.

@elwinter Shambles! How can I get BT on less that 24hr notice?! Is FP subscription fee going down now that all live main cards removed?

— Paul Harte (@paulharte2000) August 6, 2016

@elwinter @UFCFightPass given that BT Sports is no longer available to the majority of Irish TV owners. Awful timing to remove PPV option — Jonathan Murray (@nimrodson) August 6, 2016

.@elwinter Nothing personal but @ufc @UFCFightPass decision re: PPVs in Ireland is disgraceful. Can't get BT Sport on virgin media

— Chris (@ChrisK9605) August 6, 2016

@elwinter You seriously gonna fuck Irish customers RIGHT before 202? This is greed at its finest. BT and Fight pass can die in a hole. — Sean (@smcauu) August 6, 2016

@elwinter so without having @btsport in Ireland there's no way to watch #UFC pay per views live?

— Adam Galligan (@badabing2009) August 6, 2016

@elwinter fight pass cancelled. Ridiculous to remove every live main event and still expect the same subscription fee #ufc #ufcfightpass — Patrick Cummins (@alanbino) August 6, 2016

@elwinter hey Eric, got yr mail re: main card on BT sports only. Bad move I think. Will encourage illegal streaming for those without BT

— Michael Curtis (@thegoodgikgik) August 6, 2016

@elwinter @UFCFightPass SERIUOSLY FUCK YOU GUYS, WHATS THE FUCKING DEAL WITH THIS PAY PER VIEW SHIT, CANCELLING MY SUB RIGHT NOW CUNTS — Shane O Connor (@shaneokb) August 6, 2016

@elwinter what do Irish fans with no BT subscription and pointless @UFCFightPass subscription do now? Very disappointed, we've been shafted.

— Stephen (@Dunnesta) August 6, 2016

@elwinter Not happy with the email today..means I now have to pay for an extra service to watch live main cards, not impressed #UFCIreland — Robert Hurley (@hurleyisgod) August 6, 2016

@elwinter I really hope you change this crap about main cards on fight pass.. I don't mind paying for them but I'm not switching providers

— Paul (@Paulkb90) August 6, 2016

@elwinter @UFCFightPass very disappointed with new broadcasting rules in Ireland.. Your Gona push people down the illegal streams route?? — Barry McCann (@Bazmc13) August 6, 2016

@elwinter extremely disappointed to learn that Irish customers can no longer buy UFC pay-per-views,this benefits BT and not the fans

— Laura Byrne (@LauraRoseByrne) August 6, 2016

@UFCFightPass @elwinter So I guess you dont want Irish fans to be able to watch he fight yeah? @TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/84vT90b9Eu — Paul (@Paulkb90) August 6, 2016