Paramount+ Lands Exclusive UFC Rights in $7.7 Billion Deal

David Ellison, the new CEO of Paramount, secured a major deal for the media company he recently took over.

Paramount and Skydance announced a seven-year media rights agreement with TKO Group on Monday. This agreement designates Paramount+ as the exclusive home for all UFC events in the U.S., effectively moving the mixed martial arts events from ESPN. Disney’s ESPN previously held a deal, starting in 2019, that featured UFC matchups on ESPN+ and pay-per-view.

The seven-year term, beginning in 2026, is valued at an average of $1.1 billion annually, totaling $7.7 billion over the period.The companies state the contract’s payment schedule is “weighted more toward the back end of the deal.”

Starting in 2026, Paramount will exclusively distribute UFC’s complete schedule of 13 annual marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights through the Paramount+ streaming platform. Select numbered UFC events will also simulcast on CBS.

Under the agreement, UFC will discontinue its existing pay-per-view model. Instead, events will be available to Paramount+ U.S. subscribers at no extra cost. Paramount and TKO believe this distribution shift “will unlock greater accessibility and discoverability for sports fans and provide an important catalyst for driving engagement and further subscriber growth for Paramount+.”

Paramount intends to explore acquiring UFC rights outside the U.S. as those opportunities arise.

This deal follows Ellison’s recent completion of the $8 billion acquisition of Paramount global, backed by his father, Larry Ellison, and RedBird Capital.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark,” Ellison stated.