UFC moving from ESPN+ to Paramount+ in new $7.7B, 7-year deal

In an announcement on Monday, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) revealed they will be moving from ESPN+ to Paramount+ and CBS in a new, seven-year media rights deal, worth $7.7 billion.

Paramount Skydance Corporation and UFC parent company TKO Group agreed that starting in 2026, UFC’s full yearly slate of 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights will be streamed exclusively in the United States on Paramount+, with select UFC events also set to be simulcast on CBS.

The deal will also end UFC’s current pay-per-view model, which saw viewers having to pay an extra fee to watch UFC numbered events and 30 Fight Nights. UFC numbered events on Paramount+ will be available at no additional cost, and will instead be included as part of a normal subscription with Paramount+.

Fans looking to watch events under UFC’s current rights deal need to own an ESPN+ subscription and pay an additional $79.99 for premium UFC fights. That model will continue through 2025, so any fans who want to watch UFC 319 on Saturday will still need to go through that process. Starting in 2026, all fans will need to watch UFC events is a subscription to Paramount+.

Paramount confirmed both the length and cost of the deal in a news release Monday. While the average annual cost of the deal is $1.1 billion, the payment structure is weighted, with Paramount paying less money early in the deal. The deal is only for UFC’s U.S. rights. with Paramount stating in its press release that it is interested in buying the company’s international rights when they become available.

UFC CEO and president Dana White captioned a post on X “Breaking News UFC has a new home in 2026 only on @paramountplus” and added the following statement: “This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the U.S. will have access to all UFC content without a pay-per-view model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. 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.”

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