Paramount acquires UFC rights in 7-year, $7.7 billion deal with TKO Group
Under the deal, Paramount will exclusively distribute the UFC's full slate of its 13 marquee numbered events and 30 "Fight Nights" on its streaming platform Paramount+ — with select numbered events also set to simulcast on CBS — starting in 2026.
In an interview with CBS Sports, UFC CEO Dana White said his company is talking with the Trump administration about hosting a fight at the White House on July 4, 2026, to mark the nation's 250th anniversary.
"Imagine a massive fight on the lawn of the White House on CBS," White said.
A White House source familiar with the matter said such an event is anticipated next July 4.
The 7-year deal marks a shift away from the UFC's existing pay-per-view model, which Paramount and TKO say will allow the mixed martial arts programming reach more consumers nationwide.
"Paramount's advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms," David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, said in a statement. "Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC's year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win."
Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO, added that the deal will mean "deeper engagement for UFC's passionate fan base" and that its athletes "will love this new stage."
The seven-year deal has an average annual value of $1.1 billion, or $7.7 billion over the length of the contract, the companies said Monday.
Paramount, the parent company of CBS News and Paramount+ and now owned by Skydance, also said it intends to explore UFC rights outside the U.S. "as they become available in the future."
Shares of TKO — which, in addition to the UFC, also houses the WWE — jumped more than 10% in Monday trading.
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