UFC signs $7.7B U.S. media rights deal with Paramount+, ending PPV in 2026

TKO says ESPN was never in serious renewal talks; select numbered events likely to simulcast on CBS.

The UFC has agreed to a seven-year media rights agreement with Paramount+, worth a reported $7.7 billion, that will make the streamer the exclusive U.S. home of all UFC events beginning in 2026. The move ends the promotion’s ESPN era and phases out the traditional pay-per-view model for numbered cards in the United States.

TKO leadership characterized ESPN’s involvement in renewal discussions as minimal, while praising the network’s past partnership. Under the new deal, all 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights are slated to stream on Paramount+, with select marquee cards expected to air on CBS.