Overview

• TKO executives said fighters will share in the rights windfall, with Dana White pledging higher post-fight bonuses but offering no numbers.
• The seven-year package, roughly $1.1 billion per year, moves UFC events to Paramount+ with CBS involvement and ends the traditional U.S. pay-per-view model starting in 2026.
• Mark Shapiro said ESPN was never close on price as TKO targeted about double its prior deal after fielding bids from Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, DAZN, Apple and Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Records cited in antitrust cases show UFC historically paid fighters about 16–20% of revenue, setting the backdrop for scrutiny of compensation under the new model.
• TKO signaled a separate broadcast partner for the planned Zuffa Boxing launch could be announced within weeks, and the destination for Contender Series remains to be determined.