Paramount, now operating under Skydance Corporation, has struck a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with TKO Group Holdings to bring UFC exclusively to its platforms in the United States beginning in 2026. The move signals the end of the UFC’s long-running Pay-Per-View system in America, replacing it with a subscription-based streaming model that will include top-tier events without additional costs. Industry leaders say this is more than just a media rights shift—it’s a strategic power play in the streaming wars.
Key Highlights
Paramount secures exclusive U.S. UFC rights from 2026 in a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal
Paramount+ to stream all 13 numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights annually
Select numbered UFC events will also air on CBS
Agreement ends UFC’s $80 Pay-Per-View model in America
Payments weighted toward later years, signaling long-term streaming investment
Paramount’s Big Bet on UFC
Under the blockbuster deal, Paramount+ will host all 13 marquee numbered UFC events and 30 Fight Nights each year. Additionally, select numbered events will be simulcast on CBS, giving UFC an even wider audience reach. For subscribers, it means premium fights without the $80 Pay-Per-View fees, a dramatic shift in accessibility for American fans.
“This is a major win. global sports powerhouse with extraordinary cultural impact.” – David Ellison
Ellison emphasized the combined strength of Paramount’s streaming and broadcast assets, framing the deal as a strategy to deepen engagement and loyalty while driving subscriber growth.
TKO Group’s Strategic Milestone
The leadership at TKO Group Holdings is equally bullish on the partnership. Executive Chair and CEO Ariel Emanuel described it as a “milestone moment” for the UFC, pointing to the sport’s meteoric rise over the past decade.
“UFC has evolved into a preeminent global sports asset,” said Emanuel, underscoring the potential for expanding its footprint further. – Ariel Emanuel
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO, focused on the deal’s financial and brand advantages.
“This provides meaningful economics for investors, expanded inventory for global brand partners, and a massive stage for UFC athletes.” – Mark Shapiro
Shifting the Global MMA Landscape
With an average annual value of $1.1 billion, the agreement represents one of the richest media rights deals in combat sports history. Payments are weighted heavily toward the later years, a signal of Paramount’s long-term confidence in UFC’s appeal as a streaming driver. The company is also positioning itself to bid for UFC rights beyond the United States, targeting international expansion.
UFC’s dominance in mixed martial arts is undisputed, boasting 100 million U.S. fans, global availability in more than 950 million households across 210+ territories, and a roster of over 600 fighters from 75 countries. By 2026, when the deal officially kicks in, the UFC Pay-Per-View era in America will be over, replaced by an all-inclusive streaming model.
News in Brief: UFC Paramount seven-year streaming deal
Paramount, now under Skydance, has signed a $7.7 billion, seven-year deal with TKO Group Holdings to become the exclusive U.S. home for UFC starting in 2026. Paramount+ will stream all 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually, with select bouts on CBS. This deal ends UFC’s $80 Pay-Per-View model, offering premium fights to subscribers at no extra cost. Payments are weighted toward later years, with possible international expansion ahead.