Will Piracy Viewers Decrease With UFC's $7.7 Billion Dollar Deal With Paramount+?

Dan Lalonde
Aug 11
1 min read

UFC Dana White Jon Jones Conor McGregor Paramount+

Did you hear the joke about Dana White and Donald Trump discussing UFC piracy? Trump goes: "We will build a Firewall and make the Pirates pay for it."

UFC has signed a seven-year deal worth $7.7 billion with Paramount+ to distribute 13 big cards (formerly PPV events) and 30 Fight Nights in the U.S. starting next year. Several events will also air on CBS.

This will wipe out the PPV model which many fans say is outdated. Hardcore interest in the broader audience has waned as cards have become diluted of big fights. While a direct number is unknown, it's expected that %30 of MMA fans have resorted to piracy. Rather than pay $80 for a UFC card, fans can just pay for a Paramount+ subscription of $13 a month.

David Ellison, CEO of Paramount, talks about looking forward to working with TKO and Dana White.

“Paramount’s advantage lies in the expansive reach of our linear and streaming platforms. Live sports continue to be a cornerstone of our broader strategy — driving engagement, subscriber growth, and long-term loyalty, and the addition of UFC’s year-round must-watch events to our platforms is a major win. We look forward to delivering this premium content to millions of fans in the U.S., and potentially beyond.”

One question I ask is if cards will get bigger fights throughout or worse now that there's less pressure to sell a PPV? Comment below with your thoughts.