The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has struck a massive deal with Paramount for broadcast and streaming rights. Starting in 2026, Paramount will get exclusive rights to UFC's annual live events in the United States.
The agreement, worth $7.7 billion over seven years, marks a big shift for the UFC. Since 1993, the organization has relied on Pay-Per-View (PPV) for its numbered cards. Now, fans will be able to watch UFC events on Paramount+ streaming service and some UFC Fight Night events on the CBS television network.
This move reflects a growing trend in combat sports. More and more, internet streaming services are becoming the go-to platforms for watching fights. The boxing world has taken notice, with some big names weighing in on what this could mean for their sport.
Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury didn't mince words. On August 11, he posted "RIP PPV" on his Instagram story.
Turki Alalshikh, an Arab sheikh and leading promoter, shared a similar sentiment on X. After meeting with the CEO of DAZN, he announced:
"A great meeting with my brother Shay, CEO of DAZN. We have a great vision for the growth of boxing and have decided: No more PPV."
Alalshikh added that all Riyadh Season and The Ring events will be free for DAZN subscribers, saying "we are with the boxing fans."
But not everyone thinks PPV is on its way out. Jake Paul and Nakisa Badarian, co-founders of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), still see value in the model. Bidarian posted on X:
"The less PPV, the better for consumers and fighters who really make a difference. MVP has hosted the biggest fight without PPV since the advent of cable television, with Paul Tyson. But PPV is not dead at all."
The shift away from PPV is already happening in boxing. Jake Paul's upcoming fight with Mike Tyson will be on Netflix, as will the highly anticipated bout between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
Other streaming services are getting in on the action too. DAZN has signed deals in boxing, and TUBI, a Fox Sports subsidiary, has acquired rights to several soccer leagues and tournaments.
As the landscape of sports broadcasting continues to change, it's clear that streaming services will play a big role in how fans watch their favorite fighters in the future.
