The UFC has a new home. TKO Group Holdings and Paramount announced a seven-year UFC media rights agreement that begins next year. View the details of the historic deal below.
Inside The UFC Right Deal Between TKO And Paramount
PARAMOUNT AND TKO ANNOUNCE HISTORIC UFC MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT💥All UFC numbered events and Fight Nights will stream live on Paramount+, with select marquee fights simulcast on CBS, beginning in 2026. pic.twitter.com/54z8DWlCk1
— TKO (@TKOGrp) August 11, 2025
David Ellison has made his first major purchase since becoming Paramount’s new CEO after the Skydance merger for $8 billion.
In 2026, Paramount will be the new media rights partner of the UFC. Paramount has signed the UFC to a seven-year contract for the exclusive U.S. media rights. The contract has an average annual value of $1.1 billion, with the payment schedule weighted more toward the end of the deal.
Paramount will distribute UFC’s entire slate of 13 premier events — the numbered programs — and 30 Fight Nights on Paramount+. Select numbered events will be simulcast on CBS.
By putting the numbered events, e.g., UFC 330, on Paramount+, the UFC ends its lucrative pay-per-view model. UFC events will be available at no additional cost to Paramount+ subscribers. Paramount believes this deal will help with engagement and “further subscriber growth for Paramount+.”
Paramount will likely explore UFC rights outside the U.S. as they become available in the future.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark. Rarely do opportunities arise to partner on an exclusive basis with a global sports powerhouse like UFC – an organization with extraordinary global recognition, scale, and cultural impact,” said Ellison in a statement. “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 UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win. We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the U.S., and potentially beyond.”
What Does This Mean For The UFC And Its Fighters?
Breaking News 🚨UFC has a new home in 2026 only on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/FUQjemPnBS
— danawhite (@danawhite) August 11, 2025
So many questions still have to be answered.
How does this affect the pay for the fighters? The UFC and ESPN agreed to a five-year, $1.1 billion media rights contract in 2021. Five years later, the UFC signs a deal worth over $7 billion. Will the fighters receive more money now up front?
One of the biggest advantages of becoming a champion or a popular fighter was the ability to earn PPV points. The more PPVs a fighter helped sell, the more money they could earn. Will the UFC now add bonuses based on subscribers or total views?
Hopefully, more details will emerge by the end of 2025.
For now, ESPN and the UFC will continue their partnership through the end of 2025.
ESPN will still be in business with TKO going forward. WWE just agreed to a media rights deal with ESPN starting in 2026.
