The UFC is about to deliver its biggest knockout — not in the Octagon, but in how fans watch fights. Starting in 2026, U.S. viewers won’t have to cough up nearly $80 for a pay-per-view.
Instead, every numbered event, plus dozens of fight nights, will stream on Paramount+ or air on CBS as part of a blockbuster $7.7 billion deal. For the first time in decades, the sport’s biggest cards will be part of a regular subscription package.
This shift doesn’t just shake up broadcasting — it changes how millions will experience the UFC, making PPVs free in 2026.
Under the seven-year agreement, Paramount+ becomes the main home for 13 annual marquee “Premium Live Events” and 30 global Fight Nights. Select fights will also be simulcast on CBS, giving them a massive mainstream reach. Subscription costs will start as low as $8 per month, with no extra fees for major events.
The deal ends UFC’s partnership with ESPN, which charged separately for PPVs through ESPN+, a model long criticized for cost and accessibility issues. UFC boss Dana White calls the move a “huge win” for fans and fighters, while TKO Group executives labeled the old PPV model “antiquated.”
For U.S. fight fans, this is more than a TV deal — it’s a new era of watching the sport without breaking the bank. And with PPVs becoming free in 2026, that knockout blow feels historic.
