UFC Ends Pay-Per-View Era with Landmark TV Deal
In a big change for mixed martial arts fans, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced that it will no longer sell its fights through the traditional Pay-Per-View (PPV) system in the United States. Instead, all UFC events will now be available through a new deal with Paramount and CBS.
This is part of a huge seven-year agreement worth $7.7 billion. Under the deal, fans will be able to watch every UFC event — from major numbered cards to Fight Night events — on the streaming service Paramount+ and on CBS channels. The monthly subscription for Paramount+ is expected to be much cheaper than the $70-$80 PPV prices fans used to pay for one event.
UFC President Dana White called this a “historic moment” for the sport, saying it will give more people access to high-quality fights without the high cost of PPV. CBS Sports will also show some big fights on free television, which could bring even more new fans to the sport.
Many fans are excited because they can now watch more UFC without spending so much money. However, some are concerned about how this might affect fighter pay, since PPV sales often gave top fighters extra income.
The first event under this new deal is expected to take place early next year. Paramount+ will offer live coverage, replays, and behind-the-scenes content, while CBS will air select fights live on TV.
This move follows a trend where major sports are moving from PPV and cable TV to streaming platforms. For UFC, it marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter that could change how mixed martial arts is watched around the world.
