The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), born and raised in Las Vegas, just made one of the biggest changes in its history.
Starting in 2026, fight fans won’t have to shell out $70 or more for a pay-per-view anymore.
Instead, all UFC events – from its big “numbered” cards to smaller fight nights – will stream on Paramount+.
The new deal is massive: seven years, an average of $1.1 billion per year. That’s a total of $7.7 billion.
It also includes simulcasts of select major events on CBS, putting UFC right next to the NFL, NCAA March Madness, and other major sports.
For fight fans, that’s huge. For Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world, it’s another sign that the UFC is here to stay as one of the city’s signature brands.
Goodbye Pay-Per-View, Hello Streaming
Since 2019, the UFC’s home has been ESPN. The biggest fights were locked behind ESPN’s pay-per-view service, meaning fans had to pay on top of their monthly subscription.
That model is gone.
Now, for one monthly Paramount+ fee, subscribers will get all the fights – 13 numbered events and about 30 fight nights each year. If you’re the kind of fan who watches every card, that’s hundreds of dollars saved annually.
UFC President Dana White called the deal “incredible” for both fans and fighters.
What It Means for Nevada
Las Vegas isn’t just home to the UFC headquarters; it’s where many of its biggest events take place, especially at T-Mobile Arena.
With UFC fights being easier to watch and more widely promoted, that likely means bigger hype around major cards. More hype means more tourists flying in to watch in person, filling hotels, restaurants, and casinos.
The UFC already pumps millions into the local economy each year through ticket sales, fan events, and fight-week activities. A bigger national spotlight from CBS could supercharge that impact.
Paramount’s Play for Live Sports
David Ellison, Paramount’s chairman and CEO, called the UFC “a global sports powerhouse” and said the partnership is a perfect fit for their strategy.
This move also shows how streaming services are fighting hard for live sports rights. The NFL is already on Amazon Prime. Apple TV+ has Major League Soccer.
Now, Paramount+ has one of the most popular sports with younger viewers.
Critics Have Concerns
Not everyone is convinced the change will be all good.
Some worry that putting all UFC content on a single streaming service could still leave casual fans out if they don’t subscribe. Others point out that streaming services sometimes raise prices after locking in big sports deals.
But for now, the general reaction from fight fans online is positive. Many see it as a win for their wallets and for the sport’s visibility.
A Knockout for Accessibility
For Nevada residents, the UFC’s shift means more exposure for the state’s role as the global fight hub.
From the early days at the Mandalay Bay Events Center to today’s mega-fights on the Strip, the UFC has always been a Las Vegas story.
Now, instead of being limited to those who can pay big for a pay-per-view, fights will be just a click away for millions more fans. And if more people get hooked, that only strengthens Las Vegas’s position as the place to be for the biggest fights on Earth.
The UFC built its empire from Sin City. With this deal, it looks like the next chapter will be bigger, brighter, and beamed into more homes than ever before.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
