When all other cable stations scoffed at the idea of broadcasting "ultimate fighting," Spike TV — a fledgling station geared toward men — decided to take a chance on the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The partnership would soon put Spike TV on the map. It would also make the UFC the world's most recognizable mixed martial arts organization and a mainstream phenomenon.

On Thursday the two companies announced a television contract renewal that will keep the sport on Spike TV through 2011.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The three-year renewal will kick in after the current deal expires at the end of 2008.

UFC President Dana White and Spike TV President Kevin Kay said the partnership will extend and expand their current lineup of UFC-related programming.

"They've supported us from the very beginning," White said. "They've always done everything we've ever asked of them."

In January 2005, UFC and Spike TV launched the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter," a reality series that featured 16 up-and-coming mixed martial artists in a tournament-style competition. The show introduced the sport of MMA in a familiar format that TV viewers embraced with shows such as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice."

The show quickly became a hit — and the highest-rated program on Spike TV.

In addition to the reality series, Spike TV would soon begin airing live events, behind-the-scenes fighter and event specials, and even its first-ever title fight this past September.

The new deal secures seasons nine through 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter" (two seasons in 2009, and one season each in 2010 and 2011) and 12 additional UFC Fight Night events (four each from 2009-11).

As part of the announcement, White and Kay also teased a new weekly fight series that will air live on Spike TV. The show is still in development and won't debut until 2010, but it could put live UFC fights on television every week, which would be a major milestone for the organization.

"Any time there's a chance to do something with (the UFC), we jump all over it," Kay said.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, a content partner site of Yahoo! Sports.

For the latest UFC and MMA news, go to www.mmajunkie.com.