The easiest way to watch UFC in Amsterdam is in a sports bar with big screens, a kitchen and room for your group. In the Netherlands the fights are carried by HBO Max, so any bar that shows them is working from that one broadcast. The real questions are which event is on, when it starts in Amsterdam time, and where you can get a good seat. This guide covers all three, plus how we think about fight nights at Big Shots Amsterdam.
TL;DR
- UFC main cards and prelims air on HBO Max in the Netherlands, and early prelims air on UFC Fight Pass, according to UFC.com.
- Start times change from event to event, so check the UFC schedule for the Netherlands on the day before you plan your evening.
- Fight nights fill up. Arrive early, go as a group and choose a bar with several screens and real food.
- Big Shots Amsterdam is a sports bar, restaurant, café and shisha lounge across three central venues, built for long social nights.
Table of Contents
- Which service carries UFC in the Netherlands
- What time do the fights start in Amsterdam
- Why a sports bar beats the sofa for a fight night
- How to choose a bar for UFC in Amsterdam
- Planning your fight night
- Tourists and first-timers in Amsterdam
- Locals: make it a regular thing
- Our perspective on fight nights
- Make your fight night at Big Shots Amsterdam
- FAQ
- Sources
Which service carries UFC in the Netherlands
HBO Max is the home of UFC in the Netherlands. UFC.com lists the main card and prelims on HBO Max and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass for Dutch viewers. TVvisie reported that Warner Bros. Discovery is the exclusive home of UFC in the country and that HBO Max is the platform for following every event live.
If you want to watch at home, Ziggo's UFC calendar says all events are available live on HBO Max with the Sport add-on. Some selected events are also shown on Eurosport 1.
That tells you two practical things:
- There is no pile of rival channels to hunt through. If a fight is on in the Netherlands, it is on HBO Max.
- The early prelims sit on a separate service from the main card. A venue may show the main card and later prelims on its screens, but early prelims are a different feed.
What time do the fights start in Amsterdam
UFC events often take place in the United States or the Middle East, so the main card can land late in the evening or overnight in the Netherlands. The time changes with each event.
UFC.com gives a clear example of how Dutch listings look. For UFC 333, it listed early prelims at 3pm CET, prelims at 5pm CET and the main card at 7pm CET. That is a gentle evening schedule. Other cards in other time zones will look very different.
The habit worth building is simple:
- Open the UFC schedule and select the Netherlands.
- Note the three start times: early prelims, prelims and main card.
- Decide which part of the night you want. Many groups arrive for the prelims, eat, and settle in for the main card.
- Check which event is next on the Ziggo UFC calendar, which lists upcoming cards and their venues.
The calendar changes through the year, so we do not list dates here. Look at the current schedule a few days before you go.
Why a sports bar beats the sofa for a fight night
UFC is built for a crowd. The walkouts, the sudden finishes and the decisions everyone argues about all work better with a room reacting around you. A bar also solves the practical bits: no subscription to sort out, no screen-sharing mess, and food and drinks arrive without anyone leaving the couch.
There is a social reason too. Our guide on why watching sports in bars works so well in Amsterdam goes into the shared atmosphere. For combat sports, where the big moments last seconds, being surrounded by people who saw it at the same instant is the whole point.
How to choose a bar for UFC in Amsterdam
Not every bar with a TV is a good fight bar. These are the things we would check.
Screens and sightlines
A fight is easy to miss if your view is blocked. Look for several screens at different angles so that every table can see one. Our overview of big screen spots for sports fans in Amsterdam explains what to look for.
Sound
A good venue can turn commentary up for the main event without drowning out conversation at the back. Ask whether the sound will be on for the fights.
Food that suits a long night
A card can run for hours. You want a kitchen that can feed a group over time, not just a bar snack. At Big Shots Amsterdam, our menu covers breakfast, tapas, soups, salads, steaks, burgers, pizza, pasta and shared plates, so a table of friends with different tastes can all eat well.
Space for a group
If you are more than four people, tell the venue in advance. Our guide to hosting events at a sports bar in Amsterdam covers how groups can plan a night and what to ask for.
Confirm the screening
Venues decide for themselves which events they show. Before you travel across town, confirm that the bar plans to show the specific event. The simplest ways are to look at the venue's own website and social media, or to contact the bar directly on the day. Do this for any venue, ours included, so your group is not caught out by a schedule change.
It also helps to understand what a legitimate screening involves. A public venue needs the right setup to show a fight to customers, which is different from a household streaming account. If you want a general read on how to check live sports streams, this list of live sports streaming checks is a handy starting point.
For a longer list of questions to ask, use our sports bar checklist for Amsterdam.
Planning your fight night
A little planning makes the difference between a great night and standing at the back.
| Step | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Check the event | Find the card and the Dutch start times on the UFC schedule | You know when prelims and the main card begin |
| Pick your window | Decide if you want prelims, the main card or both | Sets your arrival and dinner time |
| Tell the venue | Mention your group size | Helps staff seat you together |
| Arrive early | Aim to be there well before the main card | Best seats go first |
| Order food early | Eat during the prelims | Kitchens are busiest when the main event starts |
On arriving early: our own advice on walking into Amsterdam sports bars without a reservation is to turn up 45 to 90 minutes ahead for big events. For a title fight, lean toward the longer end.
For the full evening arc, from first drink to the final bell and beyond, see our guide to a perfect sports bar night in Amsterdam.
Tourists and first-timers in Amsterdam
If you are visiting, a UFC night is a good way to meet the city's social side outside the usual sightseeing. A few things help:
- Central location. Pick a venue you can reach on foot or by tram from your hotel, because the night can finish late. Our venue near Warmoesstraat is covered in this guide to a sports bar on Warmoesstraat.
- Time zone. Check the start time in Amsterdam time, not US time.
- Language. Staff in central Amsterdam venues are used to international guests, and fight nights tend to be mixed crowds.
- Weather. If the evening is mild, a terrace is a nice place for a drink before the card starts. Our Amsterdam bar terrace guide has ideas.
Locals: make it a regular thing
If you live here, the pattern is easy. Follow the UFC calendar, pick the cards that matter to your group, and book the same table each time. Fans of other sports will recognize the routine from football nights. If that is you, see where to watch Eredivisie in Amsterdam as well.
Our perspective on fight nights
We built Big Shots Amsterdam around one idea: a night out should not force you to choose between watching sport, eating well and relaxing with friends.
That is why we combine a sports bar, restaurant, café and shisha lounge across three central venues. A fight night is long. People arrive hungry, they want a cocktail, they want to see the screen, and when the main event ends they often want to stay and talk about it.
Our approach is to make that whole evening comfortable. Start with a proper meal from our kitchen, watch the prelims with a drink, and move into the main card with your group around you. If you smoke, we also offer indoor smoking areas and a lounge atmosphere for the quieter hours before or after.
For us, the best fight bar is the one where nobody needs to leave early because they ran out of food, space or patience.
Leo
Make your fight night at Big Shots Amsterdam
We are a sports bar with a full kitchen, craft cocktails and a relaxed, lively atmosphere, in the middle of Amsterdam. Come with friends, order from our menu, and settle in for the night.
Want a slower start or finish to the evening? Look at our lounge experiences. Watching at home instead? We also offer delivery, and our merch is there if you want to rep the venue. Before you head out, check our website for the current setup and opening details at your nearest venue.
FAQ
Which channel shows UFC in the Netherlands?
HBO Max shows UFC main cards and prelims in the Netherlands, and UFC Fight Pass carries the early prelims, according to UFC.com. Ziggo's calendar notes that watching on HBO Max requires the Sport add-on.
Do Dutch broadcasts include the prelims?
Yes. For UFC 333, UFC.com listed prelims on HBO Max at 5pm CET and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass at 3pm CET, in addition to the main card at 7pm CET. Times differ for each event, so check the schedule for the Netherlands.
How do I know a bar will show a specific fight?
Look at the venue's own website and social media, or contact the bar on the day. Venues choose what they screen, and schedules can change. Tell them your group size so they can plan seating.
Should I arrive early for a UFC night?
Yes. Popular events fill up, and the best seats go first. We suggest arriving 45 to 90 minutes before the event you care about, and longer for a major title fight.
Can I eat while watching?
At Big Shots Amsterdam, yes. Our kitchen serves tapas, steaks, burgers, pizza, pasta and more, so you can eat during the prelims and be settled for the main card.
Sources
- How To Watch And Stream UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev, UFC.com
- Reinier de Ridder keert terug tijdens UFC 326 bij HBO Max, TVvisie
- UFC kalender 2026, Ziggo
- Live sports streaming checks