UFC Finds New Home at Paramount: A Million-Dollar Deal
A seven-year agreement between TKO Group and Paramount will transform the landscape of mixed martial arts in the United States. The news, announced on Monday, establishes Paramount as the new home for all Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events in the country. The agreement, with an average annual value of $1.1 billion, promises a new era for the UFC. Starting in 2026, Paramount+ will be the exclusive platform for the broadcast of the 13 most important numbered UFC events and 30 “Fight Nights”. Some numbered events will also be broadcast simultaneously on CBS.This change marks a significant transition from the UFC’s current pay-per-view model, with the aim of expanding the reach of mixed martial arts programming nationwide.This agreement puts the UFC among the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a great victory for our athletes and for anyone who watches and loves this sport.
Dana White, CEO of UFC
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO, added that the agreement will foster “greater engagement for the passionate UFC fanbase” and that its athletes “will adore this new stage.” Currently, UFC events are broadcast on ESPN. The UFC’s partnership with ESPN, owned by Disney, extends until the end of 2025. Paramount plans to explore UFC rights outside the United States “as they become available in the future”. This news comes a few days after Skydance and Paramount officially closed their $8 billion merger. In addition to the UFC, TKO also houses WWE and has been actively working on deals for the sports entertainment company. Last week, Disney announced a deal with WWE that will see its premium live events, such as WrestleMania, broadcast on ESPN.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 must-see UFC events throughout the year to our platforms is a big win.
David Ellison, President and CEO of Paramount
