This deal comes one week after ESPN cut a deal with another TKO company, WWE, to air all of its premium live events on the network’s new platform.

The meet and greet was at UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas nearly a year ago. In the luxury box of TKO Holdings, which owns UFC and WWE, were media luminaries: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Disney’s Bob Iger and the future leader of Paramount, David Ellison, CEO of Skydance.

Joe Rogan praises UFC’s Paramount+ deal but hopes the promotion keeps ESPN ties, calling the network vital for attracting new MMA fans.

The UFC has struck a huge deal with Paramount and CBS to broadcast all of its events. Paramount will pay the UFC $7.7 billion to air the UFC for the next seven years and in the process, it has ended the fight organization’s pay-per-view era.

LAS VEGAS – Eric McConico met the media Saturday after his split decision win over Cody Brundage at UFC on ESPN 72. McConico (10-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) took a pair of 29-28 scores from Brundage (11-7-1 MMA, 5-6-1 UFC) to open up the card at the UFC Apex. The dissenting scorecard in Brundage's favor was a 30-27.

The UFC has signed a new deal deal with Paramount valued at $7.7 billion, while ESPN signs WWE for rights to top events starting in 2026.

Curtis Blaydes, ranked No. 5 in the UFC heavyweight rankings, revealed during a fan Q&A before UFC 319 in Chicago that he will be out of action after undergoing surgery.

LAS VEGAS – Gabriella Fernandes met the media Saturday after her unanimous decision win over Julija Stoliarenko at UFC on ESPN 72. Fernandes (11-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) outworked Stoliarenko (11-9-1 MMA, 2-7 UFC) on the prelims at the UFC Apex. It was the Brazilian's third straight UFC win after an 0-2 start in the promotion in 2023.