Overview

• All 13 yearly UFC numbered events and about 30 Fight Nights will stream exclusively on Paramount+ from January 2026, with a handful of marquee cards airing on CBS, ending the UFC’s ESPN PPV partnership.
• UFC president Dana White and Paramount executives are developing marquee promotions such as a Fourth of July 2026 event on the White House south lawn pending approval from President Trump’s team.
• The $7.7 billion, seven-year pact—averaging $1.1 billion annually—reflects a broader industry pivot toward bundling premium sports content in streaming subscriptions as traditional PPV buys decline.
• The rapid, roughly 48-hour negotiation followed Paramount’s merger with Skydance, leveraging new leadership’s streaming ambitions while leaving international rights for future talks.
• Fighters and managers have flagged uncertainty over lost PPV revenue shares, prompting ongoing discussions to redesign compensation frameworks under the flat-fee streaming model.