Paramount has landed an exclusive seven-year US broadcasting deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The deal is valued at a staggering US$7.7 billion (A$12 billion) averaging $1.1 billion (A$1.7 billion) annually.

Starting in 2026, Paramount+ will stream all 13 marquee UFC events and 30 Fight Nights per year, with selected bouts also airing on CBS.

For Australian fans, the deal won’t impact current UFC access, as Foxtel’s Main Event retains exclusive pay-per-view rights and ESPN Australia continues to broadcast Fight Nights.

The US agreement, the largest since David Ellison (pictured below) took charge as Paramount’s CEO, marks a significant shift for UFC’s broadcast model.

For decades, UFC relied heavily on pay-per-view sales. Under the new deal, premium fights will be available to Paramount+ subscribers at no extra cost, dropping the traditional paywall and potentially expanding UFC’s reach across the US.

The deal aligns with Ellison’s vision to revitalise Paramount by leveraging live sports as a driver for subscriber growth and engagement.

Paramount will now complement the streaming platform’s extensive US sports portfolio that includes the NFL, UEFA, and NCAA March Madness.

UFC, led by CEO Dana White, has evolved from a niche combat sport into a mainstream global entertainment powerhouse with around 100 million US fans, a 25% growth since 2019 despite being behind ESPN’s paywall.

The deal also grants Paramount rights to develop original UFC-related content, expanding storytelling opportunities.

This agreement follows the recent US$8 billion merger of Paramount and Skydance, signalling the studio’s new direction under Ellison’s leadership that include plans to unify streaming platforms and harness AI technologies.

The UFC’s broadcast shift highlights the growing importance of streaming in live sports, with rivals like Disney securing WWE rights.