The UFC has finalized a landmark media rights contract with TKO Group Holdings and Paramount, beginning in 2026. This UFC media rights deal 2026 marks a dramatic shift as all UFC numbered events and Fight Nights will be streamed live on Paramount+, with select major bouts simultaneously broadcast on CBS.
David Ellison, newly appointed CEO of Paramount following the Skydance merger, orchestrated this $8 billion acquisition, securing a seven-year exclusive rights agreement valued at an average of $1.1 billion annually. The payment distribution is structured to favor the latter years of the deal, reflecting confidence in long-term growth.
Under this contract, Paramount will deliver 13 premier numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Night cards each year exclusively on its streaming service. By migrating these flagship events, including high-profile numbered cards like UFC 330, to Paramount+, UFC ends its longstanding pay-per-view model. Instead, these fights will be accessible at no extra charge to Paramount+ subscribers, a move designed to boost engagement and accelerate subscriber growth for the platform.
Paramount is also expected to pursue international UFC media rights opportunities as they emerge, potentially expanding the deal’s global reach.
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,
said David Ellison, Paramount’s CEO.
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.
Implications for UFC Fighters and the Future of Event Earnings
While the deal secures the UFC’s content distribution for seven years, many questions remain regarding its impact on fighters’ compensation. The previous arrangement with ESPN, established in 2021, was a five-year contract worth $1.1 billion, but this new agreement exceeds $7 billion total, raising speculation about how much of that revenue increase will benefit the athletes.
Traditionally, UFC fighters have earned PPV points based on pay-per-view sales, resulting in significant bonuses for champions and popular fighters. With the elimination of the pay-per-view model, there is uncertainty about whether bonuses will transition to metrics such as subscriber counts or total views on Paramount+.
Industry observers and fans alike are awaiting further clarification on these matters as 2025 progresses. Meanwhile, the ESPN partnership will remain operative until the end of 2025, ensuring continuity in UFC broadcasting during this transitional phase.
Additionally, ESPN is set to maintain a working relationship with TKO Group Holdings through other deals, such as its recent agreement to broadcast WWE events starting in 2026, signaling ongoing collaboration in the sports media landscape.