(Unfortunately, you’ll still have to pay to see these guys.)

Maybe you don’t remember this, but directly before Affliction: Banned’s pay-per-view broadcast in July, three undercard fights were supposed to be shown on Fox Sports Net, to lead viewers into the main card. So, there I was with my laptop out, ready to start liveblogging, when I learned that FSN wasn’t going to be showing the fights in my market (little ‘ol New York City) and I would instead be treated to a tape-delayed broadcast of a women’s power-napping tournament, or the Roshambo Pro Tour — I forget what it was exactly, but it was thoroughly retarded. And I heard that the same situation was playing out in a lot of places all over the country.

The good news is, we’ll no longer have to rely on the broke-asses at FSN for Affliction undercard matches. HDNet sent out a press release today announcing a “long-term partnership” with Affliction to televise the lead-off fights from their events, starting with Day of Reckoning on October 10th. HDNet’s 90-minute broadcast will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will feature the heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Paul Buentello, a welterweight contest between Mike Pyle and Jason High, and one more matchup to be announced later.

Pretty cool stuff. Though instead of booking a third undercard fight that most people won’t care about, why not shore up the HDNet broadcast with a second rock artist who could act as a quasi-opener for Ozzy? I’m just saying, they could probably get Ronnie James Dio without breaking the bank…