Paramount swoops in to lock up UFC rights in 2026
Paramount swoops in to lock up UFC rights in 2026
Starting next year, numbered UFC events and Fight Nights will stream on Paramount+ domestically.
The new Paramount ownership group didn’t wait long to make a big splash in the sports arena. On Monday, Paramount announced a transformative deal to bring UFC fights to its airwaves in the United States, snatching those rights away from ESPN and giving its streaming service Paramount+ a new, premium event with which to lure customers.
Key Details:
- Streaming and linear: Fights will be shown on Paramount+, with some simulcast on CBS.
- No more PPV: Paramount is eliminating the pay-per-view model that has traditionally accompanied UFC events.
- Goal achieved: UFC got a contract worth $1.1 billion annually, an important goal for the fighting league.
While there had been discussion around whether ESPN would retain the mixed martial arts promotion’s rights, Paramount seemingly swept in out of nowhere to land UFC rights to claim them. UFC had been linked to other potential outlets like Netflix or Warner Bros. Discovery, but Paramount was seemingly too busy with complications stemming from its merger with Skydance Media to enter the fray. Just last week, the UFC’s Dana White dropped hints about the desire to grow the global audience of UFC, comments that seemed to point to Netflix as the next partner for the fighting league.
But now, the deal between Paramount and UFC’s parent company TKO Holdings is done. Under the terms of the agreement, all numbered events and Fight Nights will stream on Paramount+, with some marquee events to appear simultaneously on CBS. The deal will start in 2026 and will last seven years. Until the end of 2025, UFC events will continue to air on ESPN platforms.
The best news of all for fans of UFC events is that the fighting league will shift away from the pay-per-view model it has used on ESPN+. Fights will be distributed to Paramount+ subscribers at no extra cost, marking a big departure from the previous formula in favor of attracting a larger audience to each fight.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark. Rarely do opportunities arise to partner on an exclusive basis with a global sports powerhouse like UFC – an organization with extraordinary global recognition, scale, and cultural impact,” new Paramount CEO David Ellison said. “Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms. Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win. We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the U.S., and potentially beyond.”
The loss of UFC is surely disappointing to ESPN, which is set to launch a new streaming servicethat carries everything found on linear ESPN channels on Aug. 21. But for UFC, the deal is a bonanza; the fighting league was reportedly looking for a deal worth $1 billion annually, and the pact with Paramount will pay $1.1 billion in average annually — though the agreement is weighted to pay more toward the back end.
“This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset,” TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said. “Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realization of our strategy. We believe wholeheartedly in David’s vision and look forward to being in business with a company that will prioritize technology as a means to enhance storytelling and the overall viewing experience.”
UFC fans, let us know in the comments how you feel about the move of UFC from ESPN to Paramount, and the shift away from PPV fights in the comments below!
Paramount Plus
Paramount+ is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 40,000+ TV show episodes from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and more. Get free access with a Walmart+ subscription.
Paramount+ includes “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Star Trek: Discovery,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and “PAW Patrol.” Subscribers can watch the NFL, college football, The Masters, college basketball, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, and NWSL. The service also offers the option to watch your live CBS affiliate. The upgraded ad-free package includes premium movies and shows from Showtime.