The Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to make a seismic shift in its U.S. broadcast home. On Monday, Paramount and TKO Group announced a landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement that will bring the UFC’s entire U.S. slate of events to Paramount starting in 2026.
The deal — averaging $1.1 billion annually — will see Paramount+ become the exclusive streaming home for all 13 of UFC’s marquee numbered events and 30 annual “Fight Nights.” Select numbered events will also simulcast on CBS, marking a significant expansion in broadcast availability.
This move signals the end of UFC’s current pay-per-view distribution model in the U.S., a change Paramount and TKO say will make the sport more accessible to fans nationwide. “This new stage will mean deeper engagement for UFC’s passionate fan base, and the athletes will love it,” said Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO.
Since 2019, UFC events have aired on ESPN under a tiered model that blends traditional TV coverage with ESPN+ streaming pay-per-views. That partnership with Disney-owned ESPN will expire at the close of 2025.
Paramount, fresh off closing its $8 billion merger with Skydance, also indicated that it will explore UFC media rights in markets outside the U.S. “as they become available.”
The announcement comes amid a busy period for TKO, which also owns WWE. Just last week, Disney struck a deal with WWE to bring premium live events — including WrestleMania — to ESPN platforms.
With the UFC’s move to Paramount+, the MMA giant joins a growing roster of sports properties shifting toward major streaming platforms, signaling a new era for how combat sports are delivered to American audiences.
