UFC announces new broadcast partner and it will impact how you watch the biggest fights
For months, the UFC – the flagship promotion in mixed martial arts – had been expected to announce its next broadcast partner, with reports suggesting that the company would part ways with ESPN. The UFC signed with ESPN in 2018 and began a partnership in 2019, but their contract expires this year.
It was thought by some that the UFC could end up on Netflix, given the streaming platform is the main global broadcaster of WWE – the professional wrestling behemoth that is essentially the UFC's sister company under ownership group TKO. Ironically, WWE just signed a broadcast deal for ESPN to show certain events going forward.
However, UFC president Dana White wrote on X/Twitter on Monday (11 August): 'Breaking News, UFC has a new home in 2026 only on @paramountplus.'
The American, 56, attached a statement confirming the end of the UFC's pay-per-view model as part of this new deal. The statement also said CBS, a cable network in the US, will show certain fights.
The statement read: 'This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model.
'[This makes] it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.'
Per a press release, Paramount has acquired the UFC broadcast rights in a seven-year deal with an average annual value of $1.1bn.
Also per that release, 2026 is set to feature 13 numbered events (previously pay-per-view events, for example UFC 317, 318, 319) and 30 Fight Night events.
TNT Sports is currently the UFC's UK broadcaster and is available through discovery+, and it is understood that Monday's announcement will not affect UK viewers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
More Americans are driving to Canada than Canadians to the U.S., report finds
More American travellers drove to Canada in July than Canadians did to the United States, according to a new report by Statistics Canada. This is the first time such a reversal has taken place since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The dramatic decline of Canadians travelling to the U.S. was sparked last year, with U.S. President Donald Trump's heated rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state that led to an ongoing trade war and lingering tension between the two countries. The data for last month shows that 1.8 million American residents drove to Canada, compared to the 1.7 million Canadian residents who made a return trip from the U.S. by car. Canadian road trips to U.S. plunge for seventh month as boycott continues Both countries saw a decline at land border crossings last month. For Americans driving to Canada, there was a slight dip of 7.4 per cent compared to the same month last year. It was also the sixth consecutive month of year-over-year declines. However, the decline was much steeper for Canadians returning from the U.S. this July compared to the previous year, at nearly 37 per cent. Last month marked the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year declines, StatCan said. 'In 2024, Canadian-resident trips to the United States totalled 39 million, representing 75 per cent of all Canadian-resident travel abroad,' according to another StatCan report published earlier this summer about travel to the U.S. 'However, recent data on foreign travel suggest that Canadians' travel sentiment toward their southern neighbour has been shifting in early 2025.' Although the data reflects a 'notable change in travel patterns,' StatCan said it is 'unclear whether the change is temporary or part of a more permanent shift.' As for air travel, the number of non-resident visitors who flew to Canada increased in July. There were 1.4 million of them — up by just over 3 per cent since the same time last year. While the bump was largely due to residents who came from overseas (up 5.6 per cent this year), American travellers were also up by just under 1 per cent. The highest number of U.S.-resident arrivals by air was 31,600 Americans on July 3, before the Independence Day long weekend in the U.S. Meanwhile, the number of Canadians returning home from abroad by air last month was down by 5.3 per cent compared to the previous year. In particular, Canadians flying back from the U.S. also decreased by nearly 26 per cent since the same time last year. Canadian permanent residents will now have to pay 'visa integrity fee' to enter U.S. Here's what it is An American sent to Canada was shocked by how furious Canadians are at the U.S. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
Tariff rebate checks in 2025? What we know about current legislation
(WJW) – It's not a pandemic stimulus check, but Congress is currently weighing the possibility of sending the American people more money. As part of the American Worker Rebate Act, introduced by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri in July, people would receive hundreds of dollars in tariff rebate checks, which work to counteract the financial burden imposed on families by the Trump administration's tariffs. As the bill stands now, a household would get $600 for every child and adult – meaning a family of four would receive $2,400. Check amounts go down for those U.S. residents who are making more than $150,000 as a family or $75,000 individually. The bill has not been passed by the Senate or the House, and it must overcome multiple obstacles before being brought to President Trump's desk to sign. However, last month, Trump did say he was 'thinking about' approving a rebate. If the revenue from the latest tariff rollout exceeds projections, the bill leaves room for a larger rebate to be sent out to the American people. So far, there has been no word from Congress or the IRS on the possibility of a fourth stimulus check, like those issued during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A rebate is a refund of something already paid for, while a stimulus is simply money given to pump up the economy. The U.S. Senate is currently on break for the summer and will be back in action on Sept. 2.
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
'TUF 33' finalist Joseph Morales enjoying process of second debut at UFC 319
CHICAGO – Joseph Morales met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC 319. Morales (12-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) meets Alibi Idiris (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the Season 33 flyweight final of "The Ultimate Fighter." Their fight takes place on the preliminary card at United Center in Chicago. At media day, Morales took questions from media members before his "TUF" finale fight. Morales has a pretty distinct advantage as a "TUF" finalist compared to most others before him: He's already been in the UFC. He's done this before, the whole UFC fight week media thing. He knows what it's like. He knows what to expect. His opponent, perhaps not so much. Morales had a 1-2 stint in the UFC in 2017-2018 – including a $50,000 bonus for his win over Roberto Sanchez. After a couple wins for Cage Warriors and Urijah Faber's promotion, where he won the flyweight title in his lone appearance, he had a two-year layoff before he taped the show. "I feel like I never left," Morales told MMA Junkie and other reporters at media day. "Everyone keeps saying I'm making my debut. Can you have two debuts? How does that work? It feels like a continuation from the first run, but it also feels like a new path of it. I get to prove myself in a different way this time. "I'm excited to be back. I think the biggest thing I can take from this time compared to last time is I'm enjoying this whole a lot more – enjoying the media, enjoying the photo shoot, the whole process. I feel like it's a bigger deal. It's more important – the little things are more important this time." Check out Morales' full media day interview in the video above.
