Paramount has secured exclusive U.S. media rights to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in a landmark seven-year agreement worth $7.7 billion, starting in 2026.
Under the deal, announced on Monday, Paramount+ will stream all 13 numbered UFC pay-per-view events and 30 “Fight Night” cards annually. Select high-profile bouts will also be broadcast on CBS, marking a major expansion of UFC’s reach on free-to-air television.
The agreement represents a dramatic shift from UFC’s existing U.S. rights arrangement with ESPN, which is set to expire in 2025 and is reportedly worth about $550 million a year. The new contract averages roughly $1.1 billion annually, reflecting the surging value of live sports content in the streaming era.
UFC President Dana White hailed the partnership as a “game changer” for the sport, saying it would give fans “unprecedented access” to events without additional pay-per-view costs beyond their Paramount+ subscription.
Paramount’s new chief executive, David Ellison, described the deal as central to the company’s strategy to strengthen its streaming platform with premium live sports. “UFC is one of the most dynamic sports properties in the world. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering must-see content to our audiences,” he said.
Industry analysts say the move could help Paramount+ attract millions of new subscribers while reshaping how UFC content is consumed in the U.S., ending decades of reliance on the pay-per-view model.
The agreement will run through 2032 and is expected to significantly boost the UFC’s exposure, bringing its marquee events to both streaming and broadcast audiences on an unprecedented scale.
