The UFC has just finalized a hefty 7-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, making Paramount+ the exclusive home to watch UFC, starting in 2026.

The deal could potentially be one of the biggest broadcasting deals in fighting history.

UFC is the hottest combat sports company today. UFC is the art of using mixed martial arts, including boxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and Muay Thai, among others. MMA is growing rapidly and is a close second to boxing as the world’s largest combat sport. The UFC used a pay-per-view style of streaming events, similar to boxing, so this deal is monumental for the sport.

This deal will give UFC access to all people who have a Paramount+ subscription, which is currently $5.99 per month with ads and $12.99 with the premium, ad-free plan.

If prices for Paramount+ subscriptions stay the same, the fights will be significantly cheaper on a yearly basis than buying individual pay-per-view (PPV) events. Prices for a single PPV event with ESPN+ are $79.99; additionally, it’s required to have an ESPN+ subscription, which is $11.99 per month. Additionally, each event is sold separately through ESPN.

There are roughly 14 main card PPV events per year. Thus, meaning if someone’s a die-hard UFC fan who buys every fight, that person would go from paying $1,120 a year, to either $72 with ads or without ads $156 on Paramount.

Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, you’re paying less for a yearly Paramount+ subscription than 2 PPV fights. This would be an annual savings of around $1,000. This move is expected to double the annual revenue, resulting in increased views and attracting customers back for repeat business.

Fans are wondering whether this is too good to be true. Will the price of a Paramount subscription rise? What happens to UFC’s ties with ESPN?

Paramount will have the streaming rights to preliminary bouts and title fights. CBS will also air selected events. ESPN is in the process of trying to acquire UFC Fight Pass, which is $9.99 per month, $95.99 per year.

UFC President Dana White confirmed that he is planning to increase post-fight bonuses. It’s confirmed there will be no major restructuring, so the watcher is getting the same old UFC.  

UFC fighters have mixed feelings about the deal, with some happy and some annoyed.

“Goodbye UFC PPV! Proud to serve as King,” said an exhilarated Conor McGregor as he celebrated the deal, acknowledging that he was the leader of PPV sales. His highest PPV viewership was 2.4 million (the most in UFC history). He holds 8 of the top 10 biggest PPV earnings in UFC history. McGregor was pleased about the deal, like many others. Although he wasn’t necessarily the best fighter of all time, he certainly was a great promoter.

On the other hand, UFC legend Georges St-Pierre cautions that this deal may not be a good thing. “It might be a bad thing for the fighters in a way that they have less leverage,” said St-Pierre. GSP was one of UFC’s first cultivating figures who brought a name to the sport. He went through many negotiations with the UFC, involving his pay. He thinks the names of the top fighters might dwindle.

With this deal being kick-started in 2026, it also brings loads of fanfare to the potential White House event.

This previous July, President Trump said there would be a UFC Fight at the White House next July 4th to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. This could be one of the most significant sporting events in the upcoming year, with it being on Paramount or possibly CBS.

Dana White said it’s “absolutely happening.”

Saint Paul’s junior, Julian Conzonere, is pumped about the change to Paramount. “I’m really happy as someone who is a fan of UFC and has a Paramount+ subscription,” said Conzonere.

Saint Paul’s junior Bennett LaNasa also weighed in. “I think it’s a smart business move from the UFC to give the streaming rights to Paramount; they both will benefit from it massively,” said LaNasa. He also went on to claim the whole deal is a “win-win” for both brands. 

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Featured Image Photo Credit via Paramountplus.com