UFC to Paramount+ No PPV, All Action: What This Means For Fighters and Fans

In a move that blows up the old way of watching fights, Paramount has locked down exclusive U.S. rights to the UFC in a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal that starts in 2026—and yes, that means no more pay-per-view in the U.S. All numbered cards and Fight Nights will stream on Paramount+, with select marquee events simulcast on CBS. The ESPN era runs through the end of 2025, then the Octagon moves. 

What fans get

• All access on Paramount+: the full slate, including ~13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights each year. 
• CBS boosts the biggest cards: a handful of numbered shows will also hit broadcast TV. 
• The PPV wall is gone: premium events won’t require an extra purchase on top of your subscription. 

Why Paramount did it

Skydance-owned Paramount wanted a year-round tentpole to fill its sports calendar and juice Paramount+ growth; UFC fits perfectly and arrives days after the Skydance–Paramount deal closed. New CEO David Ellison called UFC a “global sports powerhouse” and a major streaming driver. 

What it means for UFC and ESPN

ESPN’s five-year run with UFC (ending December 2025) is over; the rights now shift exclusively to Paramount in the U.S. Average annual value is around $1.1B—a serious step up from the current arrangement. 

The tone from the top

TKO (UFC’s parent) brass are framing this as a fan-first play: broader reach, lower friction, bigger stages. Internally, they’ve been blunt that the old PPV model is “a thing of the past,” and this structure reflects that pivot. 
Decider

🗣️ MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

• Casuals, welcome back. Moving premium cards off PPV should spike casual viewership and social moments—exactly what UFC wants when building new stars. 
• CBS nights will hit different. Broadcast windows (think Super Bowl-style reach) can turn a hot contender into a household name overnight. 
• Schedule muscle. With ~43 live events per year, Paramount+ gets a drumbeat of weekly engagement—no more summer lull. 
• Business subtext. A $7.7B commitment signals that top-tier combat sports are anchoring Paramount +'s future slates, not just filling in. 
• The open question: how fighter economics evolve without PPV splits. The platform swap changes incentives—watch renewal years & bonus structures.

View the Official UFC/TKO Press Release