The UFC’s broadcast deal with ESPN expires at the end of the year.
In 2019, the UFC went from having their fights on Fox Sports to ESPN and its streaming platform ESPN+.
After six years of partnership, the UFC could potentially move on from ESPN and find a new streaming home, such as Netflix, Amazon, or HBO Max, in 2026.
The UFC’s ESPN deal hasn’t been perfect, with the TKO Group President blaming ESPN’s ‘aggressive’ UFC PPV price policy for the explosion of illegal streaming, but the partnership has surely helped UFC get more exposure due to its accessibility on ESPN+ and spotlight on shows like SportsCenter.
Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan has addressed the UFC’s streaming future.
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Joe Rogan hopes UFC re-signs with ESPN amid ‘talk of Netflix’
As Rogan pointed out, streaming giant Netflix could potentially be in the running for UFC, seeing as how the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match became the most-streamed fight in history last November.
“I wonder what’s gonna happen if the UFC doesn’t renew the ESPN contract,” Rogan told Khalil Rountree Jr. on The Joe Rogan Experience #168.
“There’s this negotiation thing that’s going on right now, and I don’t know where they’re gonna land. There’s talk of Netflix. There’s talk of other networks. There’s a bunch of different talk,” Rogan added.
“One of the things that we benefit from is ESPN, not just as the host of the fights, but also covering the fights. All the additional coverage, all the SportsCenter talk, all the different shows that they have on ESPN+, the post-fight shows…
“Those are all huge,” Rogan said.
“The breakdowns, people love that s—. They love the pre-fight breakdowns. Alan Jouban, Rashad Evans…”
“It’s gotta stick around, man,” Rountree Jr. said.
“I hope so,” Rogan said of the UFC potentially re-signing their broadcast deal with ESPN.
“I love ESPN. I like getting it that way off the app. It’s easy,” Rogan added.
UFC’s pay-per-view price on ESPN is currently $79.99
It’s 2025, and the pay-per-view model isn’t as popular as it once was.
Illegal streaming has risen in recent years, and the UFC’s price for its ESPN+ pay-per-views continues to grow.
Prior to the UFC’s broadcast deal with ESPN, UFC pay-per-views cost fans $59.99.
In 2020, the PPV price increased to $64.99 and the price continued to hike all the way up to $79.99, where it is currently at now.