As UFC, WWE Combine Live Events Groups, Could UFC Follow WWE to Netflix?
TKO Holdings has merged the live event groups of its two combat sports leagues into the “TKO Live Events Strategy Team.”
Is the UFC about to follow WWE to a new streaming home? The latest move by the parent company of the two combat sports promotions leaves the door open for that particular question. TKO Holdings, which operates UFC and WWE, has decided to combine the live events groups of both into a single entity, which will be called the “TKO Live Events Strategy Team.” This will allow the company to more closely coordinate events from WWE and UFC, but it could also presage a move to Netflix for UFC events, as the world’s largest streamer recently struck a deal with WWE to air live episodes of “Raw” each week.
Key Details:
- WWE and UFC events will likely air on the same weekends thanks to the combination of the two live events groups.
- Netflix signed a 10-year distribution deal with WWE in January, for domestic and international content.
- UFC’s contract with ESPN runs out at the end of 2025, and Netflix could be an ideal partner.
The new arrangement for TKO Holdings means that it will be easier to coordinate the live event schedules of WWE and UFC. It could lead to more weekends with dual events from both promotions — a UFC main event on Saturday night, followed by a WWE premium live event on Sunday — which would allow TKO to reign supreme over a weekend of programming. The new TKO Live Events Strategy Team will be led by Peter Dropick.
TKO Holdings was first formed when Endeavor Group purchased WWE back in April 2023. Endeavor then spun off UFC and WWE into a new, unified business called TKO. Management expected to generate $100 million in savings by combining the two combat sports leagues into one business.
Will UFC Head to Netflix?
The most interesting question generated by the creation of a newly combined live events team for WWE and UFC is whether it points to any further moves bringing the two leagues together. UFC has found a comfortable streaming home for its pay-per-view events on ESPN+ in recent years, but at the end of 2025, ESPN’s rights to UFC events expire.
Netflix became a broadcast partner of WWE in January when it agreed to a 10-year deal to stream “WWE Raw” in the United States and internationally starting in 2025. Netflix is also slated to get much more WWE content such as live events, episodes of “Smackdown” and “NXT” outside the U.S., becoming the wrestling promotion’s biggest international partner.
Could UFC pursue a similar deal with Netflix? It certainly seems within the realm of possibility. Netflix’s global subscriber count of 269.6 million customers would provide a ready-made audience for UFC, and the streamer is no stranger to combat sports. In addition to “WWE Raw,” Netflix has agreed to stream a live boxing match between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and YouTube star turned combat sports athlete Jake Paul.
Netflix is also gaining more experience as a sports streaming service in general. It broke into NFL broadcasting in mid-May, when it secured a deal to stream Christmas Day football games in each of the next three seasons, including two in 2024.
The biggest remaining question is whether Netflix would keep the pay-per-view structure of UFC fights. UFC officials would likely advocate hard to keep that system in place, but Netflix may not want to risk its sterling reputation as a good streaming value with consumers by adding PPV events that cost $75 to $100 each.
Until UFC’s deal with ESPN expires at the end of 2025, its next broadcast partner will be a matter for pure speculation It would make sense for TKO to reach out to Netflix, however, especially if it wants to continue aligning UFC and WWE more closely together.
Netflix
Netflix is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 3,000+ movies, 2,000+ TV Shows, and Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, Squid Game, The Crown, Tiger King, and Bridgerton. They are constantly adding new shows and movies. Some of their Academy Award-winning exclusives include Roma, Marriage Story, Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.