A knockout deal that changes everything
The UFC just landed a massive media rights deal that will change the way fans watch fights forever. On August 11, UFC CEO and president Dana White announced that starting in 2026, every UFC event will be available exclusively on Paramount+ and CBS.
“This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world,” White said. “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.”
The deal is worth a staggering $7.7 billion over seven years — and for fans, it comes with the best news in years: the end of the pay-per-view model.
When does the paramount deal begin?
The agreement kicks off in January 2026, right after the UFC’s current contract with ESPN ends in late 2025.
The numbers alone are jaw-dropping — $7.7 billion — but the real story for fans is the convenience and cost savings. No more juggling subscriptions and one-off payments. Everything will live under the Paramount umbrella.
What UFC’s schedule will look like on Paramount
Under the new deal, Paramount+ will become the go-to home for UFC content. Fans can expect:
- 13 numbered events (the big blockbuster cards)
- 30 Fight Nights (regular events that still feature big-name fighters)
Every single one will be streamable on Paramount+, and some of the biggest fights will also air on CBS for a wider audience.
Goodbye, Pay-Per-View. hello, streaming.
For decades, the UFC relied on pay-per-view to drive revenue, especially for its biggest events. Under the ESPN+ deal, fans had to:
- Pay for an ESPN+ subscription ($11.99 per month or $119.99 per year)
- Buy each pay-per-view card separately ($79.99 per event)
That meant watching all 13 numbered events in a year could cost nearly $1,160 before even factoring in the ESPN+ subscription.
Now? All those fights will be available with just a Paramount+ subscription. No extra fees. No surprise charges.
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How much will Paramount+ cost UFC fans?
Paramount+ has two main subscription options:
Paramount+ Essential – $7.99/month or $59.99/year
- Over 40,000 episodes and movies
- NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League
- Stream on up to 3 devices at once
- Limited ads
Paramount+ Premium – $12.99/month or $119.99/year
- Everything in the Essential plan
- Live streaming of CBS, including sports
- Download shows and movies for offline viewing
- Access to Showtime
- No ads (except during live TV)
The UFC hasn’t confirmed whether fight coverage will be available on both plans or only on Premium. But even if it’s Premium-only, you’d be paying just $12.99 a month instead of hundreds for PPV.
How much will fans actually save?
Let’s break it down. Under the ESPN model, if you wanted every numbered event in a year:
- ESPN+ subscription: $119.99/year
- 13 PPV events at $79.99 each: $1,039.87/year
- Total: $1,159.86/year
Under Paramount+ Premium:
- $12.99/month = $155.88/year
That’s a savings of over $1,000 every year — enough to buy a year’s worth of gym memberships, boxing gloves, or frankly, a small mountain of buffalo wings for fight night.
How to sign up for Paramount+ (when the time comes)
The UFC’s Paramount era won’t start until 2026, but if you’re new to Paramount+, the process is simple:
- Visit ParamountPlus.com and click “Try It Free.”
- Pick your plan (Essential or Premium).
- Create your account with your name, email, password, and ZIP code.
- Enter your payment information — you won’t be charged until your free trial ends.
- Start streaming.
Why this is a big win for the UFC and fans
This isn’t just about cutting costs for fans. It’s also about exposure. By moving onto CBS and Paramount+, UFC will join the likes of the NFL, NCAA March Madness, and UEFA Champions League in Paramount’s sports portfolio. That means:
- More casual viewers are discovering the UFC.
- Bigger potential sponsorships for fighters.
- Greater international reach with Paramount’s global streaming platform.
Dana White has long said he wants UFC to stand alongside the biggest sports in the world. This deal is a huge step toward that vision.
Any potential downsides?
The only real concern for diehard fans is whether all fights will be included in the cheaper Essential plan, or if Premium will be mandatory. Still, for the majority of viewers, the convenience and affordability will outweigh those drawbacks.
The end of an era, the start of another
Pay-per-view has been a UFC tradition since the early days of the sport, but streaming is the future. By joining forces with Paramount, the UFC is not only making fights more accessible, it’s removing one of the biggest financial barriers for fans.
Starting in 2026, watching UFC will be as simple as opening your Paramount+ app — no extra fees, no last-minute scrambles to buy the event, and no awkward texts asking your friends if they want to chip in.
Bottom line: The UFC’s $7.7 billion deal with Paramount is a knockout for fans’ wallets and a big leap for the sport’s visibility. If you’ve ever skipped a fight because you didn’t want to drop $80 on pay-per-view, that excuse is gone. Come 2026, every punch, kick, and knockout will be just a subscription away.
