The UFC has more money than it knows what to do with after signing a historic broadcast deal with Paramount. But what does it all mean for the fighters?<\/p>\n
On Monday, the UFC officially made Paramount its new broadcast partner<\/a>, with 43 shows (including 13 numbered events) set to air on either the Paramount+ streaming service or CBS beginning in 2026. The average annual value of the seven-year deal is $1.1 billion, meaning $7.7 billion in totality (assuming the two sides don\u2019t strike up a new deal somewhere down the line).<\/p>\n Most importantly for fans, pay-per-views are now a thing of the past as the traditional numbered events are to be part of the Paramount+ subscription package. That particular detail has raised the question of what that means for fighters, especially the top names who had grown accustomed to receiving PPV points for their efforts.<\/p>\n UFC legend Georges St-Pierre spoke to Covers<\/a>, and explained why the blockbuster deal might not be to the benefit of the organization\u2019s athletes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be good for the UFC, as a promoter, terrible for the fighters because when I was competing I was able to have a great argument to negotiate on my contract,\u201d St-Pierre said. \u201cI could tell the UFC, \u2018Hey, if you want me to do all the promotion, I want to become a partner. I want a piece of the pie to negotiate a part of the pay-per-view revenue. Because if I\u2019m doing all the promotion, I\u2019m helping you, but you need to help me. You need to make me a partner.\u2019 So it might be a bad thing for the fighters in a way that they have less leverage.\u201d<\/p>\n St-Pierre is widely recognized as not only one of the best, but one of the most financially successful fighters in UFC history. As welterweight champion, St-Pierre regularly headlined PPVs from 2008 to 2013 and was a major beneficiary of the UFC\u2019s PPV-incentive system, which saw stars receive a percentage of the profits once buys passed a certain threshold (as St-Pierre\u2019s title fights regularly cleared the 600,000 buy mark, this was a common occurrence for him).<\/p>\n Other past superstars like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, and Jon Jones also filled their coffers with their share of the UFC\u2019s PPV profits, so right now it\u2019s unclear what the promotion\u2019s current lineup of headliners are supposed even ask for it comes time to make their case at the negotiation table.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I think,\u201d St-Pierre said. \u201cI think it\u2019s going to take off some leverage for the big names to have an argument to negotiate more money.\u201d<\/p>\n Home. The UFC has found a surprising new broadcasting partner, announcing a multi-billion dollar deal with Paramount<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fighters. Pros share their reaction to Monday\u2019s big news<\/a> and there are some questions.<\/p>\n Dominoes. According to TKO executives, the UFC-Paramount deal \u201ccame together in 48 hours.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n National. Could UFC White House end up airing on CBS<\/a>?<\/p>\n Roundtable. Is the pressure on<\/a> for Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319? Can Dricus du Plessis make a case to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world?<\/p>\n Mailbag. MMA Fighting\u2019s Jed Meshew answers the question of whether anyone can stop du Plessis<\/a> if he wins this Saturday.<\/p>\n Hell. Read Jimmy Drago\u2019s incredible journey to a shot at a UFC contract<\/a> ahead of tonight\u2019s Dana White\u2019s Contender Series season premiere.<\/p>\n MMA Fighting\u2019s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee react to Monday\u2019s massive news.<\/p>\n On To the Next One. MMA Fighting\u2019s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee figure out what\u2019s next for the surging Anthony Hernandez coming off of his eighth straight win, plus more matchups for the big winners of UFC Vegas 109.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n The best knockouts of the week.<\/p>\n Vicente Luque (23-11-1) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-9); UFC Rio, Oct. 11<\/p>\n It\u2019s truly a new day for the UFC (and Paramount!) with a deal that, on its surface, looks pretty damn sweet for fight fans. Surely, it still won\u2019t be cheap to watch every single event, but compared to how costs were escalating under the UFC-ESPN deal, this should be a net positive for viewers in the short term, at least.<\/p>\n And for you fighters, one word: Unionize!<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee<\/a> or @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n