Starting in 2026, Paramount will become the exclusive home of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events across the U.S., following a new seven-year agreement with TKO Group announced Monday.
The deal arrives just days after Paramount finalized its $8 billion merger with Skydance, forming a newly expanded entertainment powerhouse after months of complicated negotiations and regulatory scrutiny.
Under the new arrangement, Paramount+ will stream the entire slate of UFC’s 13 premium numbered events and 30 “Fight Nights” annually. Additionally, some major events will also air simultaneously on CBS. This marks a major shift from UFC’s traditional pay-per-view format, moving instead to a subscription-based model that Paramount and TKO say will make the sport more accessible to a broader audience.
David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, said the agreement highlights the company’s strategy of using live sports to drive growth. “Our competitive edge lies in the broad reach of our linear and streaming platforms,” he said. “Live sports are essential to our strategy—boosting engagement, subscriber numbers, and long-term viewer loyalty. Bringing UFC’s year-round, must-watch events to our ecosystem is a major win.”
TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro added that the new platform will allow for greater fan interaction and a bigger spotlight for UFC fighters. “This deal means deeper engagement for UFC’s passionate fan base. And our athletes will love the broader stage,” he said.
UFC events are currently broadcast through ESPN under a deal that includes tiered access across TV and the ESPN+ streaming service. That contract with the Disney-owned network is set to expire at the end of 2025.
The new Paramount-TKO agreement is valued at around $1.1 billion per year — a significant increase from the estimated $550 million that ESPN pays annually. One key benefit for fans: all UFC content will be housed under a single streaming service, Paramount+, which currently charges between $7.99 and $12.99 per month. That simplifies access and eliminates the extra costs typically associated with pay-per-view purchases.
Paramount also revealed plans to explore international UFC broadcasting rights as they become available in the future.
The Paramount-Skydance merger, now completed, faced months of controversy and hurdles. Much of the tension came amid legal battles involving President Donald Trump and the CBS program “60 Minutes,” a centerpiece of Paramount’s media holdings. Amid fears that the administration might block the merger, Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump in July, helping pave the way for final regulatory approval.
Trump, who is known for his close relationship with UFC CEO Dana White and frequent appearances at UFC events, expressed enthusiasm for the sport’s growth. Last month, Trump announced plans to possibly host a UFC match on the White House lawn in 2026 as part of America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations. The event would host up to 20,000 spectators.
Dana White celebrated the Paramount partnership on social media, calling it a game changer for fans. “This deal puts UFC among the biggest sports in the world,” he posted on X. “The exposure across Paramount and CBS is massive—for both our athletes and anyone who loves this sport.”
Beyond UFC, TKO also owns WWE and has been striking major broadcast deals for the wrestling brand. Just last week, Disney revealed that WWE’s premium live events — including major shows like WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series — will soon stream exclusively on ESPN starting next year.
These events will be shown on ESPN’s new streaming service launching next month, with some also appearing on its cable channels. While the financial terms weren’t officially disclosed, The Wall Street Journal reported the WWE-ESPN agreement is a five-year deal worth over $1.6 billion.
On the back of the UFC announcement, shares of TKO rose more than 7% in midday trading Monday.
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