UFC 257: Fighters, J.J. Watt, and lots of fans were furious about pay-per-view not working
Not a great start to UFC 257.
UFC boss Dana White said earlier in the week that he was going to come down hard on people who illegally streamed tonight’s massive pay-per-view event.
Well, UFC 257 started tonight and the pay-per-view isn’t working for a lot of people who actually paid the 70 bucks to watch the main card and lots of fans are furious.
Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier are the main event in tonight’s card and it should be an awesome fight to watch. But right now lots of fans can’t watch anything going on. There are also a bunch of fighters who are having issues, too, and nobody is happy.
UPDATE: ESPN is working on it.
Regarding the ESPN+ issues tonight for UFC 257. I emailed ESPN PR. Here is what I just got back.
"We are aware of an issue impacting some fans’ ability to access to tonight’s PPV event and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible."
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 24, 2021
Twitter had reactions:
Half the UFC's own roster can't get the ESPN+ app working to watch #UFC257 pic.twitter.com/TbYiQjxVXo
— MMA mania (@mmamania) January 24, 2021
More UFC fighters unable to watch the #UFC257 PPV they bought on #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/EBTcuaMHsY
— MMA mania (@mmamania) January 24, 2021
Finley is a mood…#UFC257 pic.twitter.com/9X2x7OHF25
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 24, 2021
I would like my $70 back#UFC257
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 24, 2021
They're apparently so fixated on illegal streamers they forgot to take care of their legal ones
— Dave Doyle (@davedoylemma) January 24, 2021
Bought the PPV at 6, the ESPN app stopped working when I went to watch it
The irony will be lost on Dana
— Lucas Slater (@LukethaDuke67) January 24, 2021
Just thinking out loud here, but if a company wants to avoid piracy of their events, getting a competent and consistent legal streaming service that works without constant issue is probably a thing they’ll want.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) January 24, 2021
Uh-oh, looks like they nuked the legal streamers, too.
— Chad Dundas (@chaddundas) January 24, 2021
2000 people in attendance and 2000 watching on ESPN+, everyone else getting an error.
— Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) January 24, 2021
I'm trying. The ESPN+ app is dug in like a tick. https://t.co/bNYFSxzeqY
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) January 24, 2021
I have either bought UFC 257 at least 15 times or not at all. I honestly have no idea at this point.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) January 24, 2021
Me waiting to watch the #UFC257 on #ESPNPlus AFTER SPENDING $70…… thanks @danawhite pic.twitter.com/WtqNKnVZTy
— Ivan Boyko (@boykoivan135) January 24, 2021
Dis Dana thinking he put a stop to illegal streamers when actually he shut down ESPN
#UFC257 pic.twitter.com/mx7ulCfYTl
— Jose (@JZepeda_13) January 24, 2021
Can't even log into ESPN app at all on Roku.
— GV (@garyavasquez) January 24, 2021
UFC: We’re gonna crack down on illegal streams and make everyone buy fights through ESPN+!
ESPN+: pic.twitter.com/O8syArs1XO
— Mason (@MLGmason372) January 24, 2021
#UFC257
Just bought this fight and then it doesn’t work. WTF #UFC pic.twitter.com/CphpLVpk3E— Jason Jones (@81JJones) January 24, 2021
#UFC257
PPV buyers: it’s not working refund my money!PPV streamers: pic.twitter.com/U4FmUIZy1w
— Daddeus Steezus (@Daddy_Steeze) January 24, 2021
Me watching a black screen right now #UFC257  pic.twitter.com/8ogJkXrGEa
— Bilnation
(@Bilaldinho10_) January 24, 2021