Paramount has acquired the U.S. rights to UFC for seven years in a $7.7 billion deal.

As ESPN’s deal with TKO Group’s UFC winds down in 2025, Paramount+ will become the new streaming home for all UFC events and matches, including its 13 marquee events and 30 “Fight Nights, at no extra cost to subscribers beginning in 2026. Select events will also simulcast on CBS.

This is a shift step from the pay-per-view model ESPN+ has been using for select UFC events. In a press release, Paramount stated the pivot away from pay-per-view “will unlock greater accessibility and discoverability for sports fans and provide an important catalyst for driving engagement and further subscriber growth” for the streaming platform.

Mark Shapiro, TKO Group’s president and chief operating officer, deemed the pay-per-view model “a thing of the past” in a statement after the deal.

“What’s on pay-per-view anymore? Boxing? Movies on DirecTV? It’s an outdated, antiquated model,” Shapiro said, per CNBC. “So, it was paramount to us – forgive the pun – where it’s one-stop shopping, especially for our younger fans in flyover states. When they find out, ‘Wait, if I just sign up for Paramount+ for $12.99 a month, I’m going to automatically get UFC’s numbered fights and the rest of the portfolio?’ That’s a message we want to amplify.”

Paramount also expressed interest in buying international rights to UFC, as well. The company will get an exclusive 30-day negotiating window for each country’s rights “as they become available in the future” as part of the deal, according to Shapiro.

This deal coincides with ESPN’s recent deal with WWE, which is also part of the TKO Group.

The new ESPN app, which will launch Aug. 21, will have exclusive streaming rights in the United States for WWE’s live events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and more, as well as pre- and post-show events.

Select programs will also simulcast on ESPN’s linear platforms.