Imagine relaxing on the 250th Independence Day weekend and then watching a UFC bout at the White House on Paramount+. Sounds too good to be true, right? But it just might be a very real possibility as the UFC CEO, Dana White, masterminded a deal that could reshape the sport forever. The fastest-growing sport in the world is moving to a new home from 2026 as the sport moves away from a traditional PPV model.
If you are an ardent fan of UFC, you do not need a special introduction to White. The mastermind has picked up the sport in its lowest ebb and is driving it forward to new promised lands. The billion-dollar Paramount deal is just an example of his vision and the streaming service's commitment to broaden the sport's horizon and bring in more fans. With multiple exciting cards on show in 2026, the new year might be one for the ages for the sport.
The Blockbuster Deal for UFC
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On Monday, August 11, in a joint statement, UFC and Paramount+ announced that they had signed a landmark seven-year deal to change the landscape of combat sports. The deal, rumored to be worth around $1.1 billion a year, is one of the richest ever in the sport's history.
Starting in January 2026, Paramount+ will stream each and every UFC event with just a subscription. A select number of events are also simulcast on CBS. This means that the fans can watch all the UFC events with just a single subscription to Paramount+.
Fans will be able to enjoy 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights on Paramount+. A once-in-a-lifetime White House UFC event is on the cards as White confirmed President Donald Trump is pretty much in line with the thought of hosting the UFC at the White House South Lawn.
So keep your Paramount+ subscriptions at the ready to catch all the action.
What was said?
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White was bullish that the new deal would make life easier for fans. In an official statement, he quoted, " This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time ever, fans in the US will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model, making it more affordable and accessible to view the greatest fights on a massive platform. This deal puts UFC amongst the biggest sports in the world. The exposure provided by the Paramount and CBS networks under this new structure is a huge win for our athletes and anyone who watches and loves this sport.”
David Ellison, the Chairman and CEO of Paramount, who recently closed a merger between Skydance and Paramount, is on a roll after the UFC deal. He quoted, "I couldn’t be more excited to join forces with Dana, Ari, and Mark. Rarely do opportunities arise to partner on an exclusive basis with a global sports powerhouse like UFC – an organization with extraordinary global recognition, scale, and cultural impact. Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms. 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. We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the U.S., and potentially beyond.”
How did the MMA Community react?
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However, not everything was roses once the deal was announced. It was met with some mixed responses from the pros competing in the sport. There were concerns about doing away with the PPV model and how this might impact the players' incomes. Boxer Jake Paul, who publicly feuded with White, wrote on social media that the dying PPV model saw a decline in buys because of missing star power. "Every fighter in the UFC now has a clear picture of what the revenue is... no more PPV excuses,” Paul wrote. “Get your worth, boys and girls.”
Retired MMA Legend Georges St-Pierre slammed the new deal and called it "terrible" for fighters. "It could be good for the UFC, as a promoter, [but] terrible for the fighters because when I was competing, I was able to have a great argument to negotiate on my contract," St-Pierre told Covers.
"I could tell the UFC, 'Hey, if you want me to do all the promotion, I want to become a partner. I want a piece of the pie to negotiate a part of the pay-per-view revenue. Because if I'm doing all the promotion, I'm helping you, but you need to help me. You need to make me a partner.
"So it might be a bad thing for the fighters in a way that they have less leverage [to negotiate more money]."
Currently, the fight bonuses are capped, but White is sure that there will be tons of promotions for the fighters, and everyone will win with this deal.
What does it mean for the fans?
Since its first event in 1993, the UFC has always used PPV as a revenue generator. Fans had the choice to pick the event they desired and then pay for it. But reports indicated that PPV sales have been decreasing in recent years. The fans needed to take a streaming service's subscription (like ESPN+) first and then order the PPV to catch an event live. This was an expensive affair, as the PPV increased in price up to $80. It led to many fans turning to illegal streams.
With the Paramount+ deal, the PPV system is done away with. It now enters a 'Premium Live Events' format where one subscription can give you access to all the events on offer. Paramount+'s affordable pricing means this will almost be a no-brainer for all sports lovers. This comes as a huge relief for fans who don't have to go through the hassle anymore.
How to Watch UFC on Paramount+?
To watch the UFC on Paramount+, you need to have a valid account and subscribe to their services to catch all the action live. Here's a detailed breakdown of all the steps.
- Launch the Paramount+ App or Go to the Website: Open the Paramount+ app on your smart TV, streaming device, or mobile phone, or navigate to paramountplus.com on your computer or mobile web browser.
- Locate the Sign In Option: On the app or website, find and select the "Sign In" option.
- Choose Sign In Method: Depending on your device and subscription type, you might have options like "Sign In" (for direct account login) or "Sign in with TV Provider" (if you subscribe through a TV provider like YouTube TV).
- Enter Your Credentials: If using a direct account login, enter the email address and password associated with your Paramount+ subscription. If signing in with a TV provider, you'll be guided through the provider's login process.
- Complete the Sign-In Process: Click or tap the "Sign In" button to access your account.
- Subscribe to a package: Browse through the packages offered by Paramount+ and select the package of your liking, and proceed to checkout. Pay for the subscription through a variety of payment methods offered, and get a confirmation of your subscription.
- Start Streaming: Once you subscribe, you can browse and choose the UFC content available on Paramount+.
To enjoy an optimum Paramount+ streaming experience on all devices, have a stable and fast internet connection (3 Mbps speed for 720p HD and 5Mbps speed for 1080p HD). Minimise usage on other devices during the streaming of the games.
Make sure that you disable VPNs, have the "Best Quality" setting enabled on Paramount+ and update the app to its latest version to have a smooth viewing experience.
The Bottom Line
The UFC is undergoing a historic change starting from January 2026. It will be available to all the fans with just a single subscription on Paramount+. The streaming service boasts rich content ranging from films to other sports and other original content, making it a must-have for any pop culture fan. So hurry up and start your Paramount+ subscription.