Comparing UFC’s $7.7B Paramount Deal With WWE’s $1.6B ESPN Deal

ESPN with WWE and Paramount with UFC
ESPN with WWE and Paramount with UFC (via X - @AIRGold_)

The UFC and WWE, both under TKO Group Holdings, have secured significant media rights deals. In the span of a week, UFC has signed a broadcast deal with Paramount starting from 2026. Whereas WWE is tying up an ESPN contract to start from the same time period. The only thing is that Paramount, coming in to replace ESPN for UFC broadcast, is not going empty-handed and has gotten WWE.

1. Deal Value and Duration

UFC’s deal with Paramount is valued $7.7 billion over 7 years, averaging $1.1 billion annually. The deal is backend-weighted, meaning payments increase in later years.

WWE’s deal with ESPN is valued $1.6 billion over 5 years, averaging $325 million annually.

2. Content and Events

UFC on Paramount will include all 43 annual UFC live events: 13 marquee numbered events (previously pay-per-view) and 30 Fight Night events.

WWE on ESPN covers all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs), such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Royal Rumble, estimated at 12–14 events annually. Events will be available on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming platform, with some potentially simulcast on ESPN’s linear outlets.

3. Distribution Model

Paramount eliminates the pay-per-view (PPV) model in the U.S., making all events available at no additional cost to Paramount+ subscribers. This is a significant shift from the previous ESPN deal, where PPV events cost $79.99 each.

WWE with ESPN deal does not explicitly mention eliminating a PPV model, but WWE’s PLEs will be available on ESPN’s new streaming platform, which is priced at $29.99/month. It’s unclear if additional fees will apply for PLEs, but the move to ESPN’s platform suggests a subscription-based model.

4. Fan and Market Impact

With UFC on Paramount, fans will benefit from no additional PPV costs, potentially saving ~$1,000/year (13 PPVs at $79.99 each). Increased accessibility via Paramount+ could broaden UFC’s audience, especially among younger fans and in underrepresented regions.

With WWE on ESPN, fans gain access to PLEs on a sports-focused platform, potentially increasing WWE’s mainstream exposure. The $29.99/month cost of ESPN’s new platform is higher than Paramount+’s, which may deter some fans unless PLEs are included without additional fees.

Conclusion:

UFC’s deal ends a long-standing relationship with ESPN, which paid $550M/year for UFC rights from 2019–2025. The deal aligns with Paramount’s strategy under new CEO David Ellison to prioritize live sports for subscriber growth.

WWE, however, lies on the other end, which began its business with ESPN. Their deal follows WWE’s $5B agreement with Netflix for Raw (since January 2025), indicating a multi-platform strategy. WWE’s move from NBC Universal’s Peacock to ESPN reflects a shift toward aligning with a sports-centric brand.

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