UFC fighter pay will see significant changes beginning in 2026.
The UFC shocked the combat sports world when it announced a new broadcasting rights partnership with Paramount for its new streaming home. The partnership kicks off in January 2026, and the UFC plans to host at least four ‘major’ events in the inaugural year of the deal.
UFC will move away from its long-standing pay-per-view model in favor of a monthly subscription plan for fans, making watching events much more affordable. During recent years of UFC’s broadcasting deal with ESPN, PPV prices have seen sharp increases, at the protest of fans.
One element of discussion that has come up since the $7.7 billion Paramount deal was announced is how UFC fighter pay will be impacted. Some fighters and analysts have argued that the absence of ‘pay-per-view points’ will be a negative effect of the partnership.
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Dana White announces big change to bonuses after partnership with Paramount
While there’s still a lot of questions that need answering regarding the UFC-Paramount partnership, UFC CEO Dana White revealed one positive change that will immediately go into effect that will boost fighter pay.
During the DWCS Week 1 post-fight press conference, White revealed a massive pay change that will excite UFC fighters.
“The low-hanging fruit that’s easy to answer? Bonuses are obviously going up,” White said.
“That’ll be big, and forget about the tide rising with all the other fighters, just the number that the bonuses bring to a fighter, it’s millions of dollars.”
White didn’t specify the exact dollar amounts that bonuses will increase by, but details will likely be announced in the coming months. As of this writing, the UFC has issued $50,000 post-fight performance bonuses to select fighters who put on standout showings in the Octagon.
Pundits like Joe Rogan are thrilled about the UFC-Paramount deal, with Rogan calling it a ‘supernova’ for Mixed Martial Arts. But that hasn’t stopped some of the UFC’s top icons from expressing concerns about the future of the promotion.
Georges St-Pierre expressed profound concern for UFC fighters after new TV deal
UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre labeled the deal ‘terrible’ for fighters, citing a potential loss in leverage when negotiating contracts. UFC fighters potentially losing the ability to call themselves ‘business partners’ with the promotion, according to St-Pierre, could spell a lot of negative effects for the roster.
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman expressed a different sentiment. Weidman believes the UFC-Paramount deal will lead to larger guaranteed payouts, which fighters have clamored for in recent years.
Just hours removed from the announced deal, there are still many questions left unanswered regarding programming, pay, and Paramount as a combat sports entity. Fans and fighters will learn more about the partnership in the coming months.