A streamer broadcast a live pay-per-view UFC match on multiple platforms, including Twitch, by pretending it was a video game he was playing, as spotted by EuroGamer. AJ Lester streamed the UFC 218 match between Max Holloway and Jose Aldo in its entirety over the weekend. Lester appeared in the corner of the stream, wearing a pair of headphones and holding a controller while watching intensely and reacting to the punches as if he was in control of the action.
A tweet showing Lester’s antics went viral, with over 63,000 retweets and 140,000 likes at the time of publication. Another clip shows him reacting wildly yelling “oooooooooooooooh!!!” and “damnnnnnn!” in response to the match. It’s his dedication to the charade that makes him a true internet hero.
Streamers can make money on Twitch from fans who watch them play games, making it a potentially lucrative alternative to more traditional 9-to-5 jobs. Live sporting events have been illegally streamed on platforms like Twitch before, including the Mayweather v McGregor fight in August. Lester says he’s yet to hear from any authorities regarding potential copyright violations.
