The organization’s final event of 2025 at the UFC APEX has concluded, marking the end of a seven-year broadcast partnership with ESPN and setting the stage for a monumental shift in how fans watch the sport. The UFC is going dark for the holiday season, but when it returns, the premiere MMA promotion will enter an unprecedented new chapter.
The UFC returns on Jan. 24, 2026, at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, where UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett will mark the beginning of a historic seven-year media rights agreement with Paramount. This deal changes the financial model for viewers, moving away from the traditional pay-per-view system.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 08: UFC president Dana White speaks with media after the UFC 290 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Dana White / Getty Images
For the first time, fans will no longer need to make individual purchases to watch marquee numbered events. More importantly, an annual subscription to Paramount+ will cost less than a single ESPN pay-per-view card from this past year.
“By removing the secondary pay-per-view paywall–historically a key barrier for UFC fans–we’re making these premium events available to every Paramount+subscriber at no additional cost,” said David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, in a Q3 letter to shareholders. “We’re excited to deliver this exceptional value, with the cost of an annual subscription to Paramount+ being less than just one UFC pay-per-view event under prior distribution.”
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Under the new model, all numbered UFC cards and UFC Fight Nights scheduled for 2026 will be available to stream live as part of a standard Paramount+ subscription. For fans accustomed to paying between $75-$85 for a single major card on ESPN, the new pricing structure is a dramatic discount.
A Limited-Time Offer
The most immediate benefit for fight fans is a steep drop in annual spending. The total annual cost to watch every UFC event next year is just $59.99. This is the price of the Paramount+ Essential annual plan, which provides access to the entire UFC calendar, along with other Paramount+ content. This price is notably less than the cost of a single pay-per-view card when the UFC was under the ESPN+ banner.
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However, this specific price point is a limited-time opportunity. Paramount has confirmed it will raise subscription prices and end free trials in the U.S. starting in January 2026. The price hike takes effect on Jan. 15, 2026, according to a Q3 earnings report released on Nov. 10. After that date, the annual cost for the ad-supported Essential plan will increase from $59.99 to $89.99 per year.
To explain the price increase, Ellison stated, “Our ongoing investments in Paramount+ are enhancing the value we deliver to consumers.. These changes will fuel continued reinvestment in the user experience and deliver an even stronger slate of programming for our customers in the year ahead and beyond.”
This timing means fans who subscribe before the January 15 deadline can lock in the lower $59.99 annual rate for the coming year.
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Despite the rate increasing in January, the price is still a fraction of the price required for the total annual prices of ESPN-era pay-per-views combined with an ESPN+ subscription, which was just north of $1,000.
Start of a New Era
The inaugural card of the Paramount+ era, UFC 324 on January 24, is designed to make a major statement. The event is headlined by a pivotal interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, with the winner set to face champion Ilia Topuria, who is taking a hiatus to focus on a legal dispute with his ex-wife.
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Despite the stakes, the main event has been heavily criticized by the UFC world due to Arman Tsarukyan, the no. 1-ranked UFC lightweight contender, being denied a shot at the interim title.
Even current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has said in an interview with Red Corner MMA, “I think Arman should have gotten the title shot. Let’s be honest, Arman is not going to fight anytime soon. It’s Pimblett vs. Gaethje. Whoever wins gets a shot at Topuria. Meaning one more year of layoff for Arman. It’s tough.”
During the UFC 323 post-fight press conference, Dana White responded to the criticism, explaining, “[Tsarukyan] had an opportunity, and you guys know how that played out. He’s going to have to work his way back. I don’t give a s— what the number says, he’s going to have to work his way back.”
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UFC 324 is just the start of a relentless schedule. UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, follows just one week later on Jan. 31. The event is headlined by a featherweight title rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. This packed start exemplifies the year-round slate of approximately 43 live events that will now be available to Paramount+ subscribers.
While the subscription cost will rise after Jan. 15, and Dana White himself has floated the idea of one-off pay-per-view events, the current lack of a pay-per-view barrier means the total cost for dedicated fans will still be significantly lower than in previous years, opening the door for a potentially massive new audience to experience the UFC.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
