How to Watch UFC 258: Usman vs Burns Live Online

Fresh off the heels of Conor McGregor’s shocking and humiliating defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257, MMA fans are in for another treat. Kamaru Usman will defend his Welterweight title against Gilbert Burns on Saturday, February 13, at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. The fight will headline UFC 258, which will feature some bangers.

Usman vs. Burns had been postponed several times before. Both fighters were expected to face each other at UFC 251 in July 2020, but Burns pulled out after he and his coach tested positive for COVID-19. The bout was rescheduled for UFC 256 in December, but this time, Usman withdrew because he was still recovering from undisclosed injuries.

Hopefully, the third time’s the charm, so let’s hope no freak injuries or incidents happen in the next few days. UFC 258 will be available on several platforms, but they all depend on your geographic location. In other words, your favorite streaming service could be geo-blocked. That’s why I use a VPN.

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Content Overview

• UFC 258 Broadcasters
  • ESPN+
  • International Channels
• UFC 258 and Online Restrictions
• Bypass Geo-blocks with a VPN
  • Other VPN Perks
  • VPN Installation
• Top VPN Recommendations
  • ExpressVPN
  • BulletVPN
• VPN Alternative – Unlocator
• About UFC 258
• Final Round

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UFC 258 Official Broadcasters

Ultimate Fighting Championship fans were treated to three events on Fight Island in January. Fans were allowed to attend in limited numbers for the first time since March last year. UFC 258, though, will take place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. And since it is outside Abu Dhabi’s safe-bubble island, there will be no crowd attendance this time.

So for all of us aching to watch Usman vs. Burns and the rest of the UFC 258 fight card, online streaming platforms are our only choice. However, it all depends on your country of residence, because each region has its own broadcaster.

ESPN+ – UFC’s Exclusive Home in the US

ESPN took over the broadcasting reigns of UFC events in the United States from Fox Sports in 2019. The sports network giant is responsible for bringing 42 UFC events per year to American viewers, 15 of which are exclusively available for streaming, including pay-per-view events. As for those with a US UFC Fight Pass, they can only watch the prelims.

UFC 258 is a PPV event, which means Usman vs. Burns is only available on ESPN+. The streaming service is only available inside US territories and recently increased prices for PPV events and annual subscriptions. However, the monthly plan is still $5.99, while yearly subscribers will continue to pay $49.99 before the new prices take effect in March.

The best value for money for new subscribers is the annual plan + PPV bundle, currently priced at $89.98. It offers one year of ESPN+ sports coverage plus one UFC PPV event, with 35% worth of savings. For existing customers, they can purchase the UFC 258 main card for $69.99, while monthly subscribers can upgrade to the PPV + annual plan.

Here’s how it’s laid out:

SUBSCRIPTION PLAN	PRICES
Monthly Plan	$5.99
Annual Plan	$54.99
PPV + Annual Plan Bundle	$89.98
PPV Standalone	$69.99

International Broadcasters

UFC’s popularity has skyrocketed over the past few years, earning the sport millions of followers from all over the world (and making President Dana White a very rich man). That means broadcasters and TV networks fight over UFC coverage, even though most events follow US prime time.

Yes, viewers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, for example, must stay up till or wake up early in the morning to watch UFC 258. The early prelims start at 6:30 pm Eastern time, while the prelims and the main card are expected to kick off at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm, respectively. Meanwhile, in the UK, the main card doesn’t start until 3:00 am GMT, which means Usman vs. Burns takes place between 4:00 am and 5:00 am.

BT Sport is the exclusive home for UFC events in the UK. Its standalone streaming Monthly Pass subscription costs £25, and it usually charges £19.95 for UFC PPV events. In Australia, early prelims begin at 10:30 am AEDT on Sunday, February 14 (yes, Valentine’s day) on UFC Fight Pass, with the prelims getting underway at 12:00 pm on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.

As for the main card, it should kick off at 2:00 pm. You can buy it at Main Event for $54.95 (AUD).

Here’s the full list of broadcasters:

BROADCASTER(S)	REGION(S)
ESPN+	The US
TSN (prelims only)	Canada
BT Sport	The UK
DAZN	Germany
Viaplay	Sweden and Denmark
More.TV	Russia
OSN Play, UFC Arabia	MENA region
Main Event	Australia

DAZN isn’t just restricted to German residents. In fact, it’s available almost everywhere. However, its sports lineup varies depending on where you live, so only viewers inside Germany can watch UFC 258. DAZN costs €11.99/month or €119.99 per year, and the best part about it is that there is no additional PPV charge.

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UFC 258 Subject to Online Restrictions

Certain online content is subject to copyright issues and licensing agreements. That includes series, movies, and most of all, sports. Basically, anything you can stream on video-on-demand platforms. Therefore, to abide by the law and avoid copyright infringement, streaming services use geo-blocking technology.

That means anyone outside their broadcasting zone cannot access their content, which explains the location error messages you stumble upon. For instance, if you try to access ESPN+ from outside the US, here’s what your screen will display:

“ESPN+ is not available in your country due to content rights issues.”

The remaining UFC 258 channels will show a similar geo-error message. BT Sport, for instance, will tell you this:

“Sorry, this video is not available in your country.“

Even sports streaming platforms like DAZN, which are globally available, offer different libraries to customers.

And if you’re wondering how these services can determine your whereabouts, point your finger at your IP address. This numerical tag allows you to access the Internet but also reveals your physical location and online ID. That way, the web can keep tabs on who’s visiting.

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The VPN Solution – Change Your IP, Watch UFC 258

Since your IP address is the root of your accessibility problems, changing it is the only solution. Virtual private networks allow you to divert your connection through their server networks, hiding and changing your actual IP address in the process. All you have to do is select a target server location, and the VPN will give you a matching IP.

In other words, if you have an ESPN+ subscription but find yourself outside the USA, simply connect to a VPN server inside the US. You won’t just unblock ESPN+, but also every other American-restricted streaming channel. That includes Hulu, Disney+, and US Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

The same idea applies to the other UFC 258 broadcasters. You must connect to a UK server to watch Usman vs. Burns on BT Sport or an Australian server for Main Event. And as I mentioned earlier, you need DAZN’s German catalog to watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

What More Do VPNs Offer?

Bypassing online restrictions and unblocking streaming services is just the start of it. Connecting to a VPN brings many more benefits to your online experience, including privacy and anonymity. By rerouting your traffic and changing your IP address, your actual location remains hidden, and you’ll appear as if you’re elsewhere.

Furthermore, top VPNs use military-grade encryption to protect your data from the prying eyes of hackers, ISPs, and government agencies. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys is the most secure algorithm on the market. It prevents third parties from monitoring and tracking your online activities.

And to ensure there aren’t any data leaks, a kill switch is on hand to disconnect you from the Internet in case the VPN connection drops. As a result, your traffic won’t leak to your ISP’s servers. They also don’t keep records of your online activities.

That is why we advise users to use a VPN whenever they go online. Because in addition to the unlimited access and privacy, these tools help you:

• Avoid ISP throttling: Your Internet service provider intentionally reduce your connection speeds when you consume too much bandwidth. VPNs hide your activities, so your ISP can’t figure out you’re on a streaming spree.
• Use torrents: P2P activities are illegal in many countries, with punishments ranging from fines to Internet disconnection. VPNs help you avoid copyright trolls and keep downloading your favorite songs, movies, series, and sports using peer-to-peer networks.
• Save money: Pricing for certain products sometimes differs depending on where you are. With a VPN, you can benefit from amazing offers on flights and hotels.

Installing a VPN and Streaming UFC 258

VPN apps are quite easy to download and install because they are compatible with the majority of operating systems. That includes iOS, Android, PC, Mac, Linux, and Kindle Fire, which means you can use them on computers, tablets, and smartphones. However, there are no ready-made VPN apps for Smart TVs, gaming consoles, or routers. That is why reputable brands offer Smart DNS proxies to help you unblock streaming services using Xbox, PlayStation, LG, Samsung, or other Smart TVs.

Furthermore, VPNs offer several simultaneous device connections per device, allowing you to protect all your devices.

Here’s how you can download the app and start streaming UFC 258:

1. Subscribe to an elite VPN service. All you need is a valid email address and a payment method.
2. Go to Google Play Store, App Store, or the website to download and install the app on your device.
3. Once the installation is complete, open the app sign in to your account.
4. Connect to your preferred VPN server location. Choose the US for ESPN+, UK for BT Sport, and so on.
5. See if Usman can defend his Welterweight title.

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Top VPN Recommendations for UFC 258

The above VPN features we listed don’t apply to all brands. Only top providers offer top services, which is why it’s critical you choose the right one.

For instance, free VPNs make money by storing your sensitive data and selling it to third parties. That includes your IP address, browsing history, and the websites you visit. They also use weak encryption algorithms that can easily be bypassed. But even when it comes to streaming and unblocking capabilities, they underperform. That’s mostly due to their limited and slow server network.

Therefore, stick to premium providers like the ones we suggested below.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a household name in the VPN industry. Its extensive server network can unblock most streaming platforms, despite the VPN IP address ban. That includes the UFC 258 broadcasters. The 3,000+ servers also offer fast speed rates and P2P support.

When it comes to privacy and security, ExpressVPN follows a strict zero-logging policy, meaning they don’t keep logs of your sensitive data. That way, even if one of their servers is seized, there won’t be any information that can be used to identify or track you. Moreover, the VPN uses AES-256 encryption and an automatic kill switch to cut off your connection to the Internet.

Moreover, you’ll benefit from five simultaneous device connections and a Smart DNS proxy called MediaStreamer. You can also install it on PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day refund policy.

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BulletVPN

Few VPNs can unblock the streaming platforms that BulletVPN can access. In addition to the UFC 258 broadcasters, this service can access all the major VOD services, including DStv, Showmax, and TVNZ. There’s also a free Smart DNS proxy service in case you’re using a non-VPN-compatible device.

The VPN may not have the same extensive number of servers as other providers, but they are plenty and well-distributed to cover every region on the planet. These servers offer ideal speeds for streaming and torrenting.

BulletVPN uses AES-256 encryption, follows a strict no-logs policy, and has a built-in kill switch. Moreover, you can activate the latter with the BulletShield feature, which won’t give you access to the Internet unless you’re using a BulletVPN server.

You can download the app on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac and use it on six simultaneous devices. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Watch UFC 258 with Unlocator

Another way to bypass geo-blocks is through a Smart DNS proxy service. Although they don’t offer anything in terms of privacy and anonymity, they can redirect the URLs that expose your location. This allows you to unblock certain streaming platforms, depending on each brand’s supported channels.

Smart DNS proxies don’t use encryption or change your IP address. So if you’re only interested in watching UFC 258 from abroad, they are a reliable alternative to VPNs, depending on which service you choose.

Unlocator has a list of over 220 supported channels, including ESPN+, BT Sport, DAZN, and plenty more. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial without having to submit any credit card information. It also offers a 30-day refund policy.

Here’s how to subscribe:

1. Visit Unlocator and sign up for their 7-day free trial (no credit card needed).
2. Easily set it up on any device by following the simple setup guides and videos on the website.
3. Enjoy UFC 258 from anywhere.

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About UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns

After two postponed bouts, Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns will finally battle it out in the octagon this Saturday, February 13. Both fighters were ATT teammates, so it will be interesting to see who will walk out victorious. Usman is making his third Welterweight title defense, and Burns has been on a long winning streak to pose a threat to his reign.

The coronavirus canceled the proposed co-main event rematch between Chris Weidman and Uriah Hall. Therefore, a women’s featherweight fight between Maycee Barber and Alexa Grasso filled in its place.

Here’s how the full fight card lays out:

MAIN CARD

• Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns
• Maycee Barber vs. Alexa Grasso
• Kelvin Gastelum vs. Ian Heinisch
• Andre Ewell vs. Chris Gutierrez
• Maki Pitolo vs. Julian Marquez

PRELIMS

• Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
• Rodolfo Vieira vs. Anthony Hernandez
• Dhiego Lima vs. Belal Muhammad
• Polyana Viana vs. Mallory Martin

EARLY PRELIMS

• Ricky Simón vs. Brian Kelleher
• Gabe Green vs. Philip Rowe
• Gillian Robertson vs. Miranda Maverick

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UFC 258 – Final Round

The Ultimate Fighting Championship never fails to entertain. We witnessed the shocking and quick defeat of Conor McGregor against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. And this upcoming event, two teammates will turn into opponents in a fight for the Welterweight title.

So if you want to stream UFC 258 from abroad, hurry up and subscribe to a premium VPN service or Smart DNS proxy.

Do you think Usman will defend his title? Or will Burns become the new Welterweight champion? Share your predictions below.