Short answer: yes, in the US every UFC event, including the numbered cards that used to cost around $80 each on pay-per-view, streams live on Paramount+ at no extra charge. Even the cheaper Essential plan includes all of it. The catch is geography: the deal covers the US (and Latin America), so a Paramount+ subscription in the UK or elsewhere may show no live UFC at all.
At a glance
UFC on Paramount+
| What's included | All numbered events and Fight Nights |
| Cheapest plan | Essential, $8.99/month |
| Pay-per-view | None in the US |
| Deal runs | 2026 to 2032, seven years |
| Free option | Selected events simulcast on CBS |
What the deal actually is
Paramount agreed a seven-year deal for the UFC's US rights, reported at around $7.7 billion, starting on 1 January 2026. It replaced the UFC's long relationship with ESPN, which had combined ESPN+ for Fight Nights with a separate pay-per-view fee for the numbered events.
Under the new arrangement, Paramount+ carries around 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights a year. The first event under the deal was UFC 324 on 24 January 2026, and the special card at the White House in June was also part of it.
The headline change is simple: no pay-per-view. Every card, including title fights, is part of the regular subscription. If you want the wider picture, including other countries, see our guide to where to watch UFC.
Essential or Premium?
Both plans include every live UFC event. The differences are the same as for the rest of Paramount+.
| Essential | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99/month or $89.99/year | $13.99/month or $139.99/year |
| Live UFC events | All | All |
| Ads in on-demand shows | Yes | Mostly none |
| Your local CBS station live | No | Yes |
| Showtime content | No | Yes |
For most UFC fans, Essential is enough. Live events carry broadcast ad breaks on either plan, much as on TV. Premium mainly makes sense if you also want live CBS for other sport, or ad-free on-demand viewing.
Prices rose by $1 in January 2026, so older articles quoting $7.99 and $12.99 are out of date.
Old model versus new: the cost
A rough comparison for a fan who watches every numbered event in a year.
| Model | What you paid | Approximate yearly total |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN era (to 2025) | ESPN+ plus about $80 per numbered event | Over $1,000 |
| Paramount+ Essential, annual | One subscription | $89.99 |
| Paramount+ Premium, annual | One subscription | $139.99 |
That's why the annual plan is good value if you watch the UFC year-round: it costs roughly what a single pay-per-view used to.
How to watch an event, step by step
- Subscribe at ParamountPlus.com or through your device's app store. Some mobile and broadband providers bundle Paramount+ too, so check your existing bills.
- Install the app on your TV device. Paramount+ is available on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, games consoles, phones and browsers.
- Open the UFC hub: search "UFC" in the app, or look for the live event tile on the home screen on fight night.
- Check the start time. Numbered events have early prelims, prelims and a main card. Paramount has generally scheduled main cards earlier in the evening than the old pay-per-view slot, but times vary by venue.
- Start a few minutes early, particularly for the main card, when demand peaks.
If you're choosing a device, our guide to streaming on Roku and others in the series cover the app setup on each platform.
CBS simulcasts and watching free
Part of the deal is that selected numbered events also air live on CBS. Those events can be watched free with an aerial (antenna), or through any TV package that carries your local CBS station.
Not every event is on CBS, and the network announces them event by event. For the full schedule, including every Fight Night, Paramount+ remains the only complete option in the US.
The library and replays
Paramount+ also carries a large on-demand UFC library, including numbered events going back to the early 2020s, a deep archive of Fight Nights, and series such as The Ultimate Fighter and Dana White's Contender Series.
Replays are available straight after the event. Under the old model, pay-per-view cards were locked away for a period after airing; now, if you miss a card, you can watch it the next morning.
UFC Fight Pass still exists for the deepest archive and for other promotions, but you don't need it to watch current UFC events in the US.
Outside the US
Paramount's UFC rights are mainly for the US, with Latin America covered through Paramount+ too. Elsewhere it varies:
- UK and Ireland: TNT Sports, streaming on HBO Max. Paramount+ UK doesn't carry live UFC.
- Australia: Paramount+ carries Fight Nights and numbered-event prelims, but numbered main cards remain pay-per-view on Main Event.
- Canada: Sportsnet for most events; reports suggest numbered main cards move to Paramount+ from 2027.
If you travel, the app will show what's licensed in the country you're in, not the country you subscribed in.
Common problems and fixes
"The event isn't showing." Update the app, then sign out and back in. Live event tiles usually appear shortly before the first prelim.
Buffering on the main card. Almost always the home network at peak time. A wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi helps most; restarting the streaming device clears memory.
Can't rewind the live stream. Live controls are limited on some devices. If you miss a moment, the replay appears on demand after the event.
Tempted by an unlicensed stream? With a UFC year now costing less than one old pay-per-view, the case for risky unlicensed IPTV has largely gone. Those services aren't authorised, can be shut down mid-card, and expose you to malware and payment fraud.
Watching with friends, and in bars
Fight nights are social occasions, and the Paramount+ model changes how that works.
At home. A single Paramount+ subscription is enough for a group watching on one TV; there's no per-event fee to split. Paramount+ allows a limited number of simultaneous streams per account, so if friends want to watch on their own devices elsewhere, they need their own subscriptions.
In bars and restaurants. Commercial venues need a commercial licence to show UFC events, which is separate from a personal subscription. Venues showing an event from a personal Paramount+ account aren't properly licensed. If you plan to watch out, look for venues that advertise official fight nights.
On CBS. When a numbered event is simulcast on CBS, any TV with an antenna or a TV package with your local CBS station can show it, which makes it the simplest option for a large gathering.
On the move. The Paramount+ app works on phones and tablets anywhere in the US, so you can follow the prelims on the way to a friend's house. Mobile data use for a full numbered card is significant, so connect to Wi-Fi where you can.
Spoilers. Because replays are available straight away, it's easy to catch up the next morning. Turn off sports notifications and avoid social media until you've watched, as results spread quickly.
For the full international picture, including which countries still use pay-per-view, see our guide to where to watch UFC.
What could change next
A few developments are worth watching over the coming months.
The Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Regulators cleared the deal in September 2026, with completion expected in the autumn. Paramount+ and HBO Max are expected to be combined eventually. UFC's US rights sit with Paramount, so UFC should stay part of whatever the combined service becomes, but plan names and prices may change.
Canada. Reports suggest numbered-event main cards in Canada move to Paramount+ from 2027. If you're a Canadian fan, watch for official confirmation.
Price rises. Paramount+ raised prices in January 2026. Streaming services typically review prices once a year, so an annual plan bought now locks in today's rate for twelve months.
Quick answers
Is UFC free with Paramount+? It's included in the subscription with no extra charge, on both Essential and Premium plans.
Does Paramount+ Essential include UFC pay-per-views? Yes. There are no UFC pay-per-views in the US any more; numbered events are included on Essential.
How much is Paramount+ for UFC? $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year for Essential; $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year for Premium.
Can I watch UFC on Paramount+ in the UK? No. UK and Irish rights belong to TNT Sports.
Are UFC replays on Paramount+? Yes, straight after each event, along with a large archive of older cards.
Which UFC events are on CBS? Selected numbered events, announced individually. Watch those free with an antenna.
How long does the deal last? Seven years, from 2026 to the end of 2032.
Paramount+ prices, plan features and event start times can change, and the pending Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger may reshape its streaming offer. International UFC rights vary by country. Checked September 2026.