Paramount CBS was initially set to take half of UFC’s broadcast rights in the form of 30 Fight Night cards. But the deal grew following the closure of a merger between Skydance and Paramount. In 48 hours, an agreement for rights to all of UFC’s events was struck, bucking the assumption that UFC would remain with ESPN or move to Netflix.

The seven-year deal, beginning in 2026, was the first major deal struck by Paramount after it finalized its merger with Skydance.

The UFC has finally announced its new broadcaster for 2026 and onwards, having signed with Paramount+ as its deal with ESPN comes to an end. For months, the UFC had been expected to announce its next broadcast partner, with reports suggesting that the company would part ways with ESPN.