UFC Nears Monster Broadcast Deal — Netflix and Amazon in the Cage?

As the clock ticks down on its current media rights deal, the UFC is in the final rounds of negotiations for its next major broadcast partnership — and according to TKO Group Holdings, the finish line is in sight.

“We are in the home stretch,” said TKO president and COO Mark Shapiro during Wednesday’s Q2 financial earnings call. While he stopped short of naming a new partner, Shapiro emphasized that the market for premium sports content — especially live events — remains as aggressive as ever.

And yes, ESPN is still very much in play.

💰 UFC's Deal Could Be a Multi-Network Knockout

The UFC’s existing 7-year deal with ESPN, which includes PPVs and Fight Nights, is set to expire in 2025. Since the exclusive renegotiation window with Disney closed earlier this year, TKO has been in open talks with a range of major players — including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

While rumors swirl about a split-rights arrangement (think: one network handles Fight Nights, another takes the PPVs), Shapiro reaffirmed that TKO’s goal is to balance revenue with reach — maximizing global exposure while capitalizing on the booming demand for live combat sports.

📺 WWE Got the Spotlight First, But UFC Is Next

TKO's recent $325 million-per-year deal with ESPN for WWE premium live events (like WrestleMania and SummerSlam) raised some eyebrows. But Shapiro was quick to shut down any notion that the wrestling deal impacted UFC’s path.

He explained that TKO has been negotiating five major properties simultaneously:

1. UFC (split across numbered cards and Fight Nights)
2. WWE premium events
3. Zuffa Boxing (TKO’s new combat sports venture)
4. Professional Bull Riders (PBR)
5. Additional NXT and back-catalog WWE content

As for the WWE deal landing first? Just a matter of timing.

“We’ve been in the market with all five. Where they fall in the pipeline just depends on the state of each conversation,” Shapiro explained.

🤝 ESPN Still a Top Contender

Despite shelling out big bucks for WWE, ESPN hasn't been counted out in the UFC sweepstakes. Shapiro cited ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro’s recent comments praising UFC’s impact on the growth of ESPN+, noting the relationship has been “mutually transformative” since their partnership began in 2018.

And with ESPN launching a powerful new streaming platform on August 21, there’s speculation that a renewed UFC partnership could serve as a centerpiece to attract hardcore fight fans.

“I don’t think it rules them out,” Shapiro said, referring to ESPN’s continued involvement. “Jimmy relishes the relationship with TKO. The UFC has already proven what it can do — now add WWE to that equation, and the value proposition gets even stronger.”

👀 What’s Next?

While Shapiro declined to give a firm timeline, he made one thing clear: there have been no setbacks, and UFC’s next media deal is expected to be a blockbuster.

Whether ESPN holds on, or a new streaming giant steps into the Octagon, one thing’s certain — the UFC is about to cash in big and fans should expect a new era of fight night accessibility by 2026.

🗣️ MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:

This isn’t just a media deal — it’s a fight for dominance in the combat sports streaming space. If ESPN locks both WWE and UFC, they become the home for global combat entertainment. But if Netflix or Prime swoops in and steals UFC, it could signal the biggest platform shake-up since Dana White started putting brawls on Fox. Either way, fight fans better get ready to subscribe... again.

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