The UFC’s Paramount deal brings major changes to fights in 2026

Dana White this summer confirmed a blockbuster seven-year agreement with Paramount and CBS, valued at $7.7 billion, set to kick off in 2026.

The deal brings sweeping changes to how fans will experience UFC events, including the end of pay-per-view (PPV) for numbered cards. Another major shift: fight night timings are set to change.

A new era for UFC broadcasts

With ESPN out of the picture, the UFC is entering a new chapter. Under Paramount, main cards will no longer begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. Starting in 2026, they’ll kick off an hour earlier, at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

When does UFC debut its new schedule?

The new schedule will be used for the first time at UFC 324, the opening event of the new year, which is to take place on January 24, 2026.

Headlining the card at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena: a lightweight interim title clash between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, after champion Ilia Topuria announced that he won’t be returning to the Octagon in early 2026.

The following month, fans will see a blockbuster featherweight rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes in Sydney, Australia.

No more PPV for numbered events

Under the Paramount deal, UFC will deliver 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights annually. Crucially, those marquee cards will no longer be locked behind an $80 PPV wall.

Instead, fans can access everything with a $8 monthly Paramount subscription - a seismic shift in UFC’s business model and a massive win for viewers.

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