EliteXC has released an official press release announcing a new partnership with CBS that will bring mixed martial arts to a major television network for the first time ever.

We talked about the landmark deal earlier and now it is official. The CBS Television Network and ProElite, Inc. have joined forces in a multi-year agreement that will present four MMA events per year as two-hour live primetime specials targeted for Saturday nights and produced by EliteXC’s fight division.

Additionally the two companies will also collaborate to bring mma fans interactive content on ProElite.com and CBSSports.com. This content will include streaming of events, clips, and other enhanced content in an attempt to build an active online mma community around each broadcasted event.

This is a huge milestone for mixed martial arts which to this day have only been available on PPV, cable, and internet outlets. In some ways this will define mma as a true sport to the unconvinced and somewhat weary sports fan. This is the dawn of a new beginning in mma and another step towards mixed martial arts becoming the world largest sport.

Stay tuned for more details concerning this new partnership.