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The UFC has spent decades relying on the pay-per-view model to line its pockets with the help of the many people who’ve been happy to pay a premium to tune into its biggest fights. However, MMA fans are about to reap the benefits of a fairly revolutionary deal that will bring that era to an end.
Boxing was the driving force behind the pay-per-view broadcasts that eventually became the standard format for the sport’s biggest fights; that model can be traced back to a bout between Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson in 1960 that motivated around 25,000 people to physically mail $2 to get access to the fight, and it quickly became the norm for other ring-based pastimes including pro wrestling and MMA.
The UFC has been going the PPV route since its inception, as it attracted 86,000 buys when what was simply dubbed “The Ultimate Fighting Championship” was held in Denver on November 12, 1993.
The company’s approach to broadcasting fights has evolved a bit over the decades, but PPVs have historically served as a major form of revenue for its premier cards. However, that’s about to change thanks to a groundbreaking deal.
UFC fans will no longer have to shell out for PPVs after the company joined forces with Paramount+ and CBS
UFC 319 will get underway in Chicago on August 16th, and if you want to watch the main card, you’ll need to shell out $79.99 on top of the monthly subscription fee for ESPN+ (the streaming platform for the broadcaster that’s had the rights to the MMA promotion since 2019).
However, UFC fans will reap the benefits of a new agreement that will go into effect next year, as Variety reports its current partnership will be replaced with a new one involving Paramount+ and CBS—a pivot that will mark the end of the Pay-Per-View Era.
The outlet says the two parties will kick off a seven-year, $7.7 billion arrangement at the start of 2026 that will position Paramount+ as the exclusive destination for UFC fights streamed in the United States. Unlike the current ESPN+ arrangement, every single event will be included in the base subscription price (certain ones will also be aired on CBS, which is owned and operated by the platform’s parent company).
As things currently stand, the cheapest Paramount+ subscription will set you back $7.99 a month (it’s $12.99 if you opt for the one that eliminates ads). It does seem safe to assume that price will rise to some extent once the UFC partnership goes into effect, but the financial commitment will still be a far cry from the one you need to shoulder under the ongoing deal with ESPN.
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