UFC moving to Paramount next year in $7.7 billion rights deal
The agreement, announced Monday, Aug. 11, will give CBS and streaming service Paramount+ exclusive rights to broadcast 30 UFC Fight Nights and 13 marquee events each year, beginning in 2026.
The deal doubles the annual value of UFC's current U.S. rights deal with ESPN+, according to Sportico, and it signals the end of the existing pay-per-view model currently in effect.
"Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy – driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty," Paramount's new CEO David Ellison said in a statement.
The deal also paves the way for an anticipated UFC event at the White House next July, which President Donald Trump has previously said was part of his plans for an elaborate celebration of the nation's 250th birthday in 2026.
Ellison and Trump have been seen together at several recent UFC matches.
Meanwhile, ESPN won't be left out in the cold when it comes to combat sports.
Starting in 2026, the network will take over as the exclusive U.S. home for WWE's marquee events such as "Wrestlemania," "Summer Slam" and "Royal Rumble" under a new five-year deal. Those rights had been held by NBCUniversal, which streamed the matches on Peacock.
Those events will be available on ESPN's new soon-to-launch streaming service, with some potentially simulcast on ESPN's linear outlets.
WWE and UFC both share the same parent company, TKO Sports.
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