Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC Knocks Out Pay-Per-View – Signs Historic $7.7B Streaming Deal with Paramount+ Deal That Changes the Game

The MMA giant ends the pay-per-view era with a record-breaking Paramount+ deal.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In a groundbreaking shake-up of combat sports broadcasting, the UFC will leave ESPN for Paramount in 2026 under a colossal $7.7 billion, seven-year deal, announced Monday by TKO Group Holdings (parent company of UFC and WWE) and Paramount Global.

The agreement will see all UFC annual events, including 13 numbered cards (traditionally sold via pay-per-view), available to stream on Paramount+ and aired on CBS from 2026 onwards. This shift will replace the $79.99-per-event pay-per-view model in the U.S., aiming to make MMA’s biggest fights more affordable and accessible.

UFC has announced a 7-year, $7.7 billion deal to stream all numbered fights and Fight Nights on Paramount+, with select events on CBS.

Beginning in 2026, UFC will move away from PPV and Paramount will be its exclusive U.S. home. pic.twitter.com/yXlBfMnSeB
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 11, 2025

From Pay-Per-View to Paramount: A New Era for the Octagon

The historic pact comes just a week after Paramount Global completed its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. Starting in 2026, UFC fans can watch every numbered card and 30 additional Fight Nights by subscribing to Paramount+ for $12.99 per month, with select events broadcast live on CBS. Paramount will pay an average of $1.1 billion annually for the rights, nearly doubling what ESPN has been shelling out.

In an interview, TKO Group President and COO Mark Shapiro reflected on the significance of the deal by saying, “What’s on pay-per-view anymore? Boxing? Movies on DirecTV? It’s an outdated, antiquated model. So, it was paramount to us – forgive the pun – where it’s one-stop shopping, especially for our younger fans in flyover states. When they find out, ’Wait, if I just sign up for Paramount+ for $12.99 a month, I’m going to automatically get UFC’s numbered fights and the rest of the portfolio? That’s a message we want to amplify.”

BREAKING: UFC has agreed to a 7-year, $7.7 billion exclusive US media rights deal with Paramount.

All UFC events will stream on Paramount+, with select events also airing on CBS.

Paramount+ won't charge viewers any additional fees, effectively eliminating the PPV model. pic.twitter.com/FiE66Icurj
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) August 11, 2025

For UFC President Dana White, the partnership is nothing short of a landmark moment. “This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for YFC fans and our athletes,” White said. “For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a pay-per-view model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under the new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.”

PPVs are over.

UFC announces new deal with Paramount.

7.7 billion dollars for 7 years.

All numbered events will be on CBS. For free.

Wow! pic.twitter.com/mIUmzqfu4Y
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) August 11, 2025

The UFC currently reaches around 100 million fans in the U.S. and nearly a billion households worldwide. While ESPN will lose the Octagon in 2026, TKO isn’t severing ties, as last week it inked a separate $1.6 billion, five-year deal for WWE premium events like WrestleMania and SummerSlam to remain on ESPN platforms, according to USA Today.

Mandatory Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.