The UFC’s new relationship with Paramount could open all sorts of crossover opportunities, including on one of the most successful reality shows of all time.
“The Amazing Race” is one of the shows under the Paramount umbrella, with Season 39 having just been renewed for 2026. There’s likely more to come after that, and Phil Keoghan, who is a producer and host for the U.S. version of the series, is open to seeing UFC athletes test themselves.
“Absolutely I could see a UFC team being on ‘The Amazing Race,'” Keoghan told MMA Junkie. “I mean, athletes, people who compete, they train hard, they’re incredibly focused. These athletes are so highly tuned and you think of the discomfort they have to put up with as a fighter, it’s one thing to be a soccer player and you’re fit and you get discomfort because you’re tired and you’re running around a field. But imagine being pummelled and have to get up, and you’re still competing?
“On ‘The Amazing Race,’ we shoot 12 shows in 21 days. It’s a lot of discomfort and a lot of times you’re sleeping out on the street waiting for something to open before you can go in. It’s not a luxury gig, so I think UFC fighters would be able to easily put up with the discomfort. A lot of them have travelled, a lot of them are hyper-competitive of course.”
During the same red carpet session where Keoghan invited UFC athletes to test their physical and mental capabilities on “The Amazing Race,” notables such as UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern, lightweight Michael Chandler and more said they would be all for it.
“1,000 percent,” Chandler told MMA Junkie. “If anyone wants to reach out, me and Brie Chandler will take down ‘The Amazing Race.’ It could be cool.”
It remains to be seen which athletes or in what format a UFC collaboration for “The Amazing Race” would look like, but with the Paramount deal still being so fresh, it at least appears the door is open going forward.
“I could see them doing well and it would be fun,” Keoghan said. “They’re big characters. They’re larger than life, so I could see that.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: ‘The Amazing Race’ meets UFC? Reality show host down for crossover
