On August 11, 2025, the UFC announced a groundbreaking seven-year deal valued at $7.7 billion with Paramount Skydance and CBS. The agreement means that starting in January 2026, all UFC premium events—including 13 numbered cards and 30 Fight Night events annually—will stream on Paramount+ and some will simulcast on CBS. This shift officially ends the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) model in the United States.
A Shift Toward Subscription Access
In a press release, the UFC and Paramount said:
“As part of the agreement, UFC and Paramount will move away from UFC’s existing Pay-Per-View model in favor of making these premium events available at no additional cost to the expansive U.S. subscriber base of Paramount+.”
Dana White, UFC President, called the deal “historic” and noted that for the first time, fans in the U.S. will be able to access UFC content without paying extra beyond their subscription fee. He said this positions UFC as one of the world’s biggest sports.
Leaders Weigh In
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, commented:
“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. 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.”
Ariel Emanuel, CEO of TKO Group Holdings, added:
“This is a milestone moment and landmark deal for UFC, solidifying its position as a preeminent global sports asset. Our decade-long journey with UFC has been defined by continuous growth and expansion, and this agreement is an important realization of our strategy. We believe wholeheartedly in David’s vision and look forward to being in business with a company that will prioritize technology as a means to enhance storytelling and the overall viewing experience.”
Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO, said:
“Paramount is a platinum partner with significant reach. Our new agreement unlocks powerful opportunities at TKO for years to come — meaningful economics for investors; expanded premium inventory for global brand partners; and deeper engagement for UFC’s passionate fanbase. Just as importantly, our athletes will love this new stage.”
Speed and Strategy Behind the Deal
Reports indicate this deal came together remarkably quickly—within 48 hours—following Paramount’s merger with Skydance.
Paramount+ currently has around 77 million subscribers, which is more than triple the reach of ESPN+; moving UFC to Paramount+ is expected to drive greater subscriber growth and year-round engagement.
Fans will enjoy greater value—no more $80 PPV fees, just a flat monthly or yearly fee.For the UFC and TKO Group, this means more predictable revenue and broader reach. The move mirrors broader sports media trends, where leagues are shifting from one-off buys to subscription models.
Some select events will still be available on CBS to reach non-streaming audiences and boost visibility.
UFC’s previous media rights deal with ESPN run from 2018 to the end of 2025 and involved a PPV structure added to ESPN+, priced at around $80 per numbered card.
The shift to Paramount+ is one of the biggest moves in sports media history for MMA. It also aligns with WWE’s recent transition to subscription-based streaming and new long-term media strategies.
The new arrangement begins January 2026, and it may encourage more bundled streaming subscriptions and multi-sport platforms.
