UFC no more PPVs? How the new Paramount+ deal changes everything

How UFC PPVs worked before

For more than a decade, the UFC business in the United States revolved around pay-per-view. Fans first paid for access to a platform (most recently ESPN+) and then paid again, usually around $79.99, for each numbered UFC card. That “double paywall” meant hardcore viewers who bought most events routinely spent hundreds of dollars per year on PPVs.

This model helped turn the UFC into a giant. Supercards like McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov or Jones vs. Cormier were marketed as must-buy events, with the live gate and PPV split doing the heavy lifting. But as more sports moved to streaming and subscription bundles, the friction of one-off fight purchases started to look old-fashioned compared to “all-in-one” platforms.

What “UFC no more PPVs” actually means

When people say “UFC no more PPVs” today, they are really talking about the new media rights deal between UFC parent company TKO and Paramount Skydance. Starting in 2026, Paramount+ becomes the exclusive home of the UFC in the United States, with all events – including the flagship numbered cards – included in the streaming subscription instead of being sold as separate PPVs.

The package covers 43 live events per year: 13 numbered cards and 30 Fight Nights. Every one of those will be available on Paramount+, while a handful of the biggest shows each year are expected to be simulcast on CBS as free-to-air broadcasts. From a fan’s perspective in the US, the key change is simple: one subscription, no extra charge when a big title fight comes around.

How much fans pay now vs the old PPV era

Under the old system, a typical dedicated fan might pay for an ESPN+ subscription plus eight to twelve PPVs per year. Even at a conservative estimate of eight paid cards at roughly $80 each, that is more than $600 annually before tax, on top of the base subscription price.

With the Paramount+ deal, there is still a subscription fee – and Paramount has already announced a price increase to support what it describes as heavier sports and original-content investment. In 2026, the widely expected US monthly prices are around the high single digits for the ad-supported tier and low-to-mid teens for the premium tier. Even at those higher rates, a year of Paramount+ still costs less than a single year of buying monthly UFC PPVs under the old model.

The net result is that regular viewers win: instead of deciding which cards they can afford to buy, they get the full calendar of UFC events for a flat streaming cost. Casual viewers who only bought one or two mega-cards per year may pay a similar amount overall, but will have access to far more content around those peaks.

Earlier start times and a cleaner viewing experience

The “UFC no more PPVs” shift is not just about money. It also changes when and how fans actually watch the fights. In the Paramount+ era, numbered shows are scheduled to begin an hour earlier at 9 p.m. ET, addressing long-running complaints about title fights starting after midnight on the US east coast.

On the technical side, having everything in one streaming ecosystem means fewer logins and less confusion over which app to open on fight night. It also lets Paramount+ and UFC build more integrated shoulder programming: embedded shows, pre-fight countdowns, post-fight desk analysis and even crossover content with other Paramount properties, all within the same interface.

What about Europe, Estonia and the rest of the world?

A key detail: “UFC no more PPVs” is mostly a US headline. Outside the United States, the UFC’s media picture remains a patchwork of regional deals. Paramount+ has also picked up rights in Latin America and Australia, but even there, the exact split between full cards and prelims versus local PPV providers can differ by country.

In markets like the UK and Ireland, existing agreements with TNT Sports continue for now, with late-night main cards still a reality for many fans. In other territories, UFC content appears on local platforms such as Canal+ in parts of Europe, discovery+ in Italy, U-NEXT in Japan, or regional sports networks and streaming services. In the Baltic countries, including Estonia, fans typically watch UFC via the TV3 Group sports channels or via UFC’s own digital products, and any changes will depend on how those rights are renewed over time.

So while the US can genuinely talk about “UFC no more PPVs” from 2026, fans elsewhere should check their local broadcaster’s announcements. In some regions, the classic PPV model may remain in place for a while longer, even as subscriptions and streaming bundles become more important globally.

Why the UFC is doing this now

From the UFC and TKO side, the motivation is strategic as much as financial. Locking in a multi-billion-dollar rights fee over seven years brings predictable revenue, which investors and public markets love. At the same time, putting the entire UFC schedule behind a single subscription wall is a powerful tool against churn for Paramount+: once fans sign up to follow their favorite fighters, there is always another card coming a few weeks later.

Executives have also been blunt about the PPV model feeling outdated. A streaming-first generation is used to paying monthly for a bundle of content rather than entering card details on a Saturday night for a single show. By lowering the marginal cost of watching each event to almost zero, the UFC can drive higher average viewership per card, which in turn raises the value of sponsors, in-arena advertising, and global licensing.

What it means for fighters and for the sport

A common fan question is what happens to fighter pay when there are no PPV bonuses in the traditional sense. Publicly, the UFC has framed the new deal as creating a bigger and more stable revenue pie from which to reward athletes, but the details will depend on how contracts are written going forward. It is likely that “points” and back-end incentives will increasingly be tied to streaming metrics, overall event value and sponsor packages rather than raw pay-per-view buys.

On the sport side, more accessible cards should mean more casual fans seeing rising contenders earlier in their careers. Instead of waiting for a fighter to become a pay-per-view headliner before casuals pay attention, they can stumble onto a Fight Night main event or numbered card co-main while simply browsing Paramount+. If the content is promoted well, that can help build new stars faster and deepen the fanbase beyond the handful of mega names at the very top.

FAQ: UFC no more PPVs and the new media model

Is “UFC no more PPVs” true everywhere or just in the US?

The end of traditional PPV mainly applies to the United States, where all UFC events move onto Paramount+ from 2026 with no extra PPV fee. Other regions still depend on local rights deals and, in some cases, classic PPV providers or separate streaming platforms.

Do I still need ESPN+ for UFC after 2025?

No. The UFC’s rights package with ESPN in the US ends in December 2025. From 2026, US-based fans will find UFC events on Paramount+ instead, with some major cards also shown on CBS.

Will Paramount+ become more expensive because of the UFC?

Paramount+ has already confirmed price increases for 2026, and executives have linked those higher prices to heavier investment in live sports, including the UFC. Even so, a full year of Paramount+ will still be cheaper than repeatedly buying standalone PPVs at the old price point.

What if I live in Europe or Estonia?

In Europe, including Estonia, UFC will continue to appear on existing partner networks and streaming services until those contracts expire. The Paramount+ deal does not automatically replace those arrangements, so you should follow announcements from your local broadcaster or from the UFC’s regional pages for up-to-date information.

Does this mean UFC will never sell a PPV again?

In the US, the plan is clearly to move away from traditional PPV for all numbered events. However, the UFC can still choose to package special shows differently in other territories or with future partners. The broader trend, though, points strongly toward subscription-based access rather than one-off PPV buys.