Paramount will be the exclusive home for all Ultimate Fighting Championship events in the United States under a seven-year agreement with TKO Group announced Monday. Beginning in 2026, Paramount will distribute the UFC’s 13 marquee numbered events and 30 “Fight Nights” annually on its streaming platform Paramount+, with select numbered events also simulcast on CBS.
The move marks a departure from the UFC’s current pay-per-view model, which Paramount and TKO say will allow the sport to reach a wider national audience. “Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms,” said David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount. “Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win.”
Mark Shapiro, president and COO of TKO, said the agreement will create “deeper engagement for UFC’s passionate fan base” and that athletes “will love this new stage.” The deal carries an average annual value of $1.1 billion, according to the companies.
Paramount, now owned by Skydance, also indicated it may pursue UFC rights in other markets when they become available. Shares of TKO, which also owns WWE, were up 1.4% in premarket trading Monday.
