The ONE Championship event featuring former UFC champions Eddie Alvarez and Demetrious Johnson on Oct. 13 in Tokyo will be the Asian promotion's first to be televised live in the United States, Alvarez told ESPN on Monday.
Alvarez (30-7), who held the UFC lightweight belt in 2016 and also was a two-time Bellator champ, will face Saygid Arslanaliev (8-1) in the final of ONE's lightweight grand prix. Appearing on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show, Alvarez said his fight will be televised in prime time in the U.S. on Oct. 12 on TNT.
Johnson (29-3-1), who owns the UFC record for consecutive title defenses after successfully putting the flyweight belt on the line 11 times during a reign from 2012 until last year, faces Danny Kingad (13-1) in the flyweight grand prix finale.
Alvarez and Johnson both have competed twice before for ONE Championship after joining the promotion this year. Johnson won both of his fights; Alvarez lost his debut in March before scoring a quick win earlier this month.
The October fight card at Ryogoku Kokugikan arena has five title bouts scheduled and is dubbed ONE Championship: Century because it will be the promotion's 100th event.
A ONE representative confirmed that the fights are on TNT and said details on the broadcast time are forthcoming.
