NV’s Las Vegas The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced Monday that they will be switching from ESPN+ to Paramount+ and CBS in a new seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights agreement.
In 2026, the UFC’s entire annual schedule of thirty Fight Nights and thirteen marquee numbered events will be streamed exclusively in the United States on Paramount+, according to an agreement between Paramount Skydance Corporation and UFC parent company TKO Group. A few UFC events will also be televised on CBS.
The agreement will also put a stop to the UFC’s current pay-per-view business model, which required spectators to pay extra to watch 30 Fight Nights and UFC numbered events. The UFC numbered events on Paramount+ will be part of a regular Paramount+ membership and will be accessible at no extra cost.
Under the current UFC rights agreement, fans who wish to watch bouts must have an ESPN+ subscription and pay an extra $79.99 for premium UFC fights. Fans who wish to see UFC 319 on Saturday will still have to go through that procedure because that model will be in place until 2025. All fans will require a Paramount+ subscription in order to view UFC events beginning in 2026.
In a press release on Monday, Paramount affirmed the deal’s duration and price. Although the arrangement has an average yearly cost of $1.1 billion, Paramount pays less early in the deal due to a weighted payment structure. In its press release, Paramount stated that it is interested in purchasing the UFC’s foreign rights when they become available, but the contract is solely for the U.S. rights.
In a commentary for an article on XBreaking News, UFC CEO and president Dana White wrote: “This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes.” “UFC has a new home in 2026 only on @paramountplus.” Watching the best fights on a huge platform will now be more inexpensive and accessible for UFC fans in the United States, who will have access to all UFC content for the first time without a pay-per-view model. The UFC is now one of the largest sports in the world thanks to this deal. The exposure provided by the Paramount and BCS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.
Diego Thomazini of Shutterstock.com provided the editorial.
