Paramount reportedly has a contingency agreement with White.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set for a major change in its broadcasting landscape, as it prepares to move exclusively to Paramount+ starting in 2026. This shift marks the end of UFC's traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model in the U.S., making viewing more affordable and accessible for fans.
Under a seven-year, $1.1 billion media rights deal, all 13 numbered UFC events annually and around 30 Fight Nights per year will stream exclusively on Paramount+. This centralizes UFC's 350+ hours of live content annually onto the streaming platform.
Some UFC numbered events will also be simulcast on CBS, broadening reach on traditional broadcast TV while driving primary viewership to Paramount+. UFC events will join Paramount+’s existing notable live sports lineup, including NFL games and the UEFA Champions League, elevating Paramount+ as a major sports streaming destination.
Dana White, UFC CEO, expressed his desire for the organisation to surpass other popular sports in terms of popularity and riches. With the new deal, fans no longer need to pay separately for big events; all fights will be included under the Paramount+ subscription, enhancing viewer convenience and potentially increasing UFC's US fan base penetration.
The new UFC home on Paramount will simplify offerings for fans, with all content available on Paramount+, rather than multiple PPV fees. This strategic pivot suggests a broader trend at Paramount towards consolidating premium live sports and major content providers into its streaming service.
Paramount also announced its intention to explore UFC rights outside the US "as they become available in the future." Meanwhile, Dana White is part of the promotional team for the September boxing match between Mexican boxer Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez and Terence Crawford, which will be streamed on Netflix.
In other news, White and Saudi Arabia are launching a new boxing company that will begin next year. White mentioned that classic UFC fights have a strong re-air audience, but no specific details were given about the new boxing company's use of a PPV platform.
White is also planning to meet with President Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump on August 28 to discuss the logistics of a potential UFC fight at the White House on July 4, 2023. This proposal follows Donald Trump's earlier expressed interest in hosting a UFC fight on the White House grounds to celebrate the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The $1.1 billion deal marks a significant jump from the approximately $550 million ESPN was paying annually for UFC coverage today. However, there are still moving parts in the deal, including potentially finding new homes for "The Ultimate Fighter," "Road To UFC," and "Dana White's Contender Series." The UFC still has pay-per-view cards for the rest of the year.
The Paramount-UFC deal came after Skydance and Paramount officially closed their $8 billion merger, launching a new entertainment giant. White was impressed with Skydance CEO David Ellison's vision for the global mixed martial arts leader at the start of contract talks.
In conclusion, UFC’s transition into the Paramount era will primarily bring streaming exclusivity on Paramount+, elimination of PPV for UFC events, simulcasts on CBS for select events, and integration into Paramount+’s overall sports offerings starting in 2026.
[1] BusinessWire
[2] Variety
Fans will be excited to know that all UFC events, including numbered events and Fight Nights, will stream exclusively on Paramount+ starting in 2026, joining other live sports events like NFL games and the UEFA Champions League on the platform. With this change, UFC events will no longer require separate pay-per-view fees, making viewing more accessible and affordable for fans. [BusinessWire] [Variety]
The new deal between UFC and Paramount also includes plans to explore UFC rights outside the US "as they become available in the future," potentially expanding the reach of UFC's mixed-martial-arts content to global audiences. [Variety]
