UFC Heads to Paramount, Pay-Per-Views Are Dead
Posted on: August 11, 2025, 06:35h.
Last updated on: August 11, 2025, 06:39h.
- UFC and ESPN partnership is officially over
- UFC product to be offered exclusively via Paramount streaming platform and CBS
UFC pay-per-view is now dead, with the news today that Paramount has bought UFC broadcast rights for USD $7.7 billion over 7 years.
New Partnership Starts in 2026
This is big news for UFC fans, as the cost to consume UFC product will go down. The new marriage starts in 2026.
This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes,” said UFC CEO Dana White. “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.
ESPN Partnership Comes to an End
“This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.”
Thirteen marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights will air via Paramount’s direct-to-consumer streaming platform, Paramount+, with selected numbered events to be simulcast on CBS.
Paramount and TKO Group Holdings Inc., a publicly traded sports and entertainment company that owns UFC, WWE and PBR (professional bull riding), made the official announcement today.
No More PPV
“I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari [Executive Chair and CEO, TKO], and Mark [Shapiro, President and COO, TKO). 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, Chairman and CEO of Paramount.
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.”
UFC events take place year-round with approximately 43 live events annually, delivering more than 350 hours of live event content. The promotion’s current deal with ESPN expires at the end of 2025/
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