UFC & Paramount Deal - Everything You Need To Know In Two Minutes

Dana White signs 7-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount+ via si.com

In August 2025, UFC & Paramount, alongside TKO Group Holdings, announced a seven-year media rights agreement covering the U.S. market.  

Starting in 2026, all UFC events will be available exclusively on Paramount+, with marquee events on CBS. The deal is worth $7.7 billion in total, with an average annual revenue of $1.1 billion. 

When the new year begins, Paramount+ will be the exclusive home for all UFC events in the U.S., including a full slate of 13 numbered events annually and 30 fight night cards annually. Select big-number events will also be simulcast on CBS, meaning some events will be available over traditional TV, not just streaming.

The deal eliminates the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model in the U.S. under this agreement. Instead, all those subscribed to Paramount+ through a standard subscription have access to all UFC events, with no extra PPV fee required.

Later in 2025, the partnership was expanded: starting in 2026, the new deal also covers Latin America & Australia. This means fans outside the U.S. may also have easier access to UFC events. 

The move away from PPV removes a significant barrier for many fans. Instead of paying $80-$100 per event, they’ll get full UFC access through a subscription. This wider accessibility will likely increase overall viewership and exposure.

From a business aspect, adding the UFC, a year-round sport with 40+ events per year, gives Paramount+ a massive competitive advantage, bringing in millions of fight fans.

This deal ends the six-year partnership between the UFC and ESPN.

ESPN was a critical asset for the UFC, supporting the first-ever PPV aired on ESPN+. With this relationship, the UFC reached record-high revenue levels, the brand was fully integrated into American sports culture, and events became consistent and professionally packaged. 

Dana White has once again made history, and this $7.7 billion deal is just the beginning. In January 2026, the first-ever UFC event on Paramount+ will launch at UFC 324 in Las Vegas.

The UFC continues to make major moves in the pursuit of becoming the worldwide face of the fight game.