Consider Joe Rogan a fan of the deal between UFC and Paramount.
Joe Rogan Praises New UFC-Paramount Deal
The UFC will have a new home next year.
Earlier this week, TKO Group Holdings and Paramount agreed to a seven-year UFC media rights deal starting in 2026. The contract has an average annual value of $1.1 billion.
The new contract means the UFC is going away from the pay-per-view model. Paramount will distribute UFC events — including 13 numbered cards and 30 Fight Nights — on Paramount+. Select events will simulcast on CBS.
Rogan, one of the UFC’s top commentators, praised Paramount for the deal and believes the sport’s growth will go “through the roof.”
“It’s a super smart move for Paramount. What a great move to not just have the UFC for seven years, but to have it for free,” Rogan said on his podcast. “How much does it cost a month? Ten bucks. Let’s say it’s ten bucks. That’s crazy. That’s $120 a year. You can watch every UFC pay-per-view? Two UFC pay-per-views is, like, 140 bucks, right? Isn’t it? Aren’t they, like, $70? So you get all of them. Everything’s free? That’s incredible. This sport is going to go f—ing hypernova.”
Rogan’s use of “free” means that Paramount+ will not charge an additional fee for UFC events on top of its subscription. Paramount+ offers two plans: Paramount+ Essential at $7.99 per month and Paramount+ Premium at $12.99 per month. Whether those subscription prices increase at some point in the lead-up to 2026 is unknown.
With Paramount taking over coverage in 2026, the UFC’s ESPN deal concludes at the end of the year. Rogan hopes ESPN doesn’t fully sever its ties with UFC and wants to see the Worldwide Leader in Sports continue its MMA coverage.
“I’m kind of bummed out, and I hope they don’t lose the relationship that they had with ESPN with all their MMA shows,” Rogan said about ESPN losing the UFC. “I hope they don’t go, like, ‘F— them. They went to Paramount.’
“I hope it’s a mutually beneficial thing, like the UFC at least does some content still on ESPN, because I think that’s also a big factor in pulling people from casual viewers that watch other sports that might occasionally watch a UFC fight, and then they see, like, Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway, and they’re like, ‘Holy s—.’ And then they’re hooked. Having that coverage on SportsCenter, that s—‘s huge. Having those post-fight shows on ESPN+, that s— is huge. For the real dorks like me, that’s huge.”
Joe Rogan Will Continue Calling The UFC In 2026
With the move to Paramount, will Rogan continue calling UFC events in 2026?
In one word, yes.
“Everything is good for Joe Rogan,” Dana White said on Pardon My Take when asked if Rogan will remain on UFC broadcasts in 2026. “Joe Rogan has no problems in life whatsoever,” White explained. “Joe Rogan isn’t here at the UFC because of the money. He did the first 12 events for free. Joe Rogan has a time problem; that’s the only thing Joe Rogan has.”
White also believes play-by-play commentator Jon Anik will transition over to Paramount next year.
