Overview

• Dana White said formal matchmaking for the first UFC event under the Paramount deal began today, with no bouts officially booked yet.
• Ilia Topuria is a possibility to headline the Paramount launch, according to White, though his participation has not been confirmed.
• The seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. rights agreement begins Jan. 1, 2026, placing UFC events on Paramount+ with select cards simulcast on CBS.
• UFC 323 on Dec. 6 remains the final pay-per-view of the ESPN era, headlined by Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan, as White praised ESPN and vowed a strong send-off.
• White said he expects Dana White’s Contender Series to shift to Paramount alongside the main UFC schedule.