The Ultimate Fighting Championship has found a brand new home in the United States, and it is a massive one. Starting in 2026, all UFC events will stream live on Paramount Plus thanks to a record-breaking $7.7 billion deal with Paramount Global. The agreement will run for seven years and completely end the long-standing Pay Per View model for American fight fans.
This means you will no longer have to pay $80 for a single big UFC card. Instead, every numbered event, Fight Night, and preliminary bout will be included in your regular Paramount Plus subscription. Some of the biggest fights will also air on CBS, making UFC more accessible than ever.
From Pay Per View to Streaming for Everyone
For years, UFC’s biggest events like title fights or blockbuster cards were locked behind Pay Per View. Under ESPN’s current contract, fans had to pay both a monthly ESPN Plus fee and an additional Pay Per View cost for premium fights. But with the new Paramount deal, that is gone.
Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Group, summed it up perfectly:
It is a big win for younger fans, casual viewers, and anyone tired of paying extra to see the biggest bouts.
What is in the Deal
The new UFC and Paramount Plus deal is worth an incredible $7.7 billion over seven years, which works out to about $1.1 billion a year. It officially kicks off in 2026, right after the current ESPN contract ends in 2025. Under this partnership, fans will get around 40-50 UFC events each year, including 13 huge numbered cards and 30 Fight Nights. Every fight will stream live on Paramount Plus, and some will even air on CBS so more people can tune in for free. The best part? There are no extra charges and everything is included with your regular Paramount Plus subscription. For now, the agreement covers the U.S., but there’s a good chance we could see it expand to other countries in the future.
Interestingly, Paramount originally expected to only take UFC’s Fight Nights, leaving the numbered events to another partner. But after Paramount merged with Skydance, the two sides struck a full-package deal in just 48 hours.
Why UFC Chose Paramount
TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel explained that UFC drives subscriber growth, which fits perfectly with Paramount’s new streaming strategy under CEO David Ellison. With other major sports rights locked up for years such as Formula 1 leaning toward Apple and MLB waiting until 2028, UFC was one of the rare top-tier sports properties on the market.
Ellison even called UFC a “unicorn asset” that only comes up about once a decade, and as a longtime UFC fan, he made it clear this was a must-have for Paramount.
Year-Round Action for Subscribers
Unlike seasonal sports, UFC runs all year, keeping fans engaged every month. The promotion puts on 43 live events annually, delivering over 350 hours of live fights. This constant schedule is gold for streaming platforms as it reduces subscriber churn.
Paramount also has the option to bid for UFC’s international rights as they become available. With fights broadcast in over 210 countries and territories, that could mean a truly global reach in the future.
What This Means for Fans
For fight fans in the U.S., this is nothing short of a revolution. No more deciding whether one card is worth $80. No more picking and choosing events to watch. Everything will be there in one subscription, and CBS broadcasts will make UFC even more mainstream.
Dana White called the deal “historic” and hinted it could also mean higher fighter pay thanks to the guaranteed revenue. That is a win for both fans and athletes.
Bottom line: Starting in 2026, UFC will be in your living room with no extra Pay Per View fees. Just grab a Paramount Plus subscription and you are set.
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