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The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has confirmed a landmark $7.7 billion (£5.7 billion), seven-year media rights deal with Paramount, set to begin in January 2026. The agreement, announced on Monday, 11 August 2025, will bring all UFC events to Paramount Plus in the United States, ending the long-standing pay-per-view era. Under the deal, UFC fights will also be simulcast on CBS, offering unprecedented accessibility for fans.

Details of the UFC–Paramount Deal

The contract, valued at $7.7 billion (£5.7 billion) over seven years, will generate approximately $1.1 billion (£819 million) per year for UFC's parent company TKO Group Holdings. The package includes:

  • Thirteen numbered UFC events each year
  • Thirty 'Fight Night' cards annually
  • All events available on Paramount Plus at no extra cost to subscribers
  • Select numbered events simulcast on CBS

This arrangement replaces the previous broadcasting deal with ESPN, which was worth around $550 million (£409 million) annually, as reported by Yahoo Sports, marking a significant financial leap for the organisation.

The first full season under the new agreement will begin in January 2026. From that date, all UFC events will be available exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US, with CBS carrying a portion of the major fights. This shift means fans will no longer need to purchase separate pay-per-view packages for numbered events, a practice that has been central to UFC's business model for decades.

The End of the Pay-Per-View Era, Industry and Fan Reactions

For years, UFC fans have had to pay around $80 per pay-per-view event in addition to a monthly ESPN Plus subscription fee. Under the new model, a single Paramount Plus subscription, costing between $7.99 (£5.95) to $13 (£9.68) per month, will include access to all live UFC content. This change is expected to expand the sport's reach by making events more affordable and accessible to a broader audience, as reported by MMA Mania, with many fans noting that the shift could save them hundreds of dollars each year.

The deal has drawn mixed responses from the MMA community. Some fighters have voiced concern about the end of pay‑per‑view revenue sharing, according to MMA Fighting. Jake Paul remarked that 'every fighter in the UFC now has a clear picture of what the revenue is' and urged them to 'get your worth, boys and girls'. Other professionals have praised the move for its potential to increase viewership and global exposure.

Fans have also been divided. Many have welcomed the lower costs and broader accessibility, while others have voiced concerns about Paramount Plus's streaming reliability during major live events. Social media has reflected this split, with hashtags both celebrating the deal and lamenting the loss of the traditional pay-per-view experience.

Why This Could Upend the Fight Game Forever

This agreement is one of the largest media rights deals in combat sports history and positions UFC as a pioneer in shifting premium fights to subscription-based streaming. Paramount's hybrid approach, combining streaming with network television broadcasts, could serve as a model for future sports broadcasting deals.

Industry analysts have suggested that the move could influence other combat sports such as boxing and professional wrestling, encouraging them to reconsider their reliance on pay-per-view revenue. Changes to fighter compensation structures, event promotion and audience engagement strategies are likely as the UFC adjusts to its new distribution model.

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