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When the blue mountain logo of Paramount+ faded in with the letters “UFC” flashing above it, the MMA world knew change was coming. The promotional clip, featuring Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, Kayla Harrison, Ilia Topuria, and Merab Dvalishvili, wasn’t just another flashy montage; it marked the beginning of a new broadcast era for Dana White’s promotion. And a post by MMA on Point on Instagram, confirmed what many had been waiting to hear: “Australian fans and Latin American fans rejoice, UFC is coming to Paramount+ from 2026.” But as the news spread, the reactions were far from unanimous celebration. Some saw it as a massive win for accessibility. Others called it a step backward. The promo might have been global in reach, but the ripple effects of this deal touched fans very differently across continents. After all, the $7.7 billion deal is no small move. Paramount and TKO Group Holdings have sealed a seven-year, multi-territory agreement that will see Paramount+ become the new home of UFC in Latin America and Australia starting in 2026. The partnership will include 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Nights each year, streamed directly on the platform. Pay-per-views, once the crown jewel of UFC’s distribution, are reportedly being replaced by a subscription-based model. As per Dana White’s latest statement after the promo and update, “The partnership with Paramount has already been incredible, and it just keeps getting bigger and better. They are now taking on new territories like Latin America and Australia, and this thing is just going to continue to grow. It just shows you how aggressive they are with this business, and I love it. I can’t wait to continue working together and building the next generation of talent all over the world.” ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad This shift marks the end of an era, too. After six years with ESPN, the UFC’s broadcast partnership concludes with UFC 323, headlined by Merab Dvalishvili vs. Petr Yan. It’s poetic: the relentless Georgian champion closing the door on ESPN as the promotion prepares for its next chapter. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Behind the scenes, matchmaking for the first Paramount card has already begun. Rumors suggest that Ilia Topuria, the Georgian-Spanish lightweight champion and one of UFC’s fastest-rising stars, could headline the debut card. A symbolic choice, considering the company’s goal of expanding further into European and Latin American markets. But while executives and fighters are gearing up for the future, fans, especially in newly affected regions, have mixed feelings. Dana White and the UFC’s move to Paramount+ in 2026 leaves fans questioning their region’s fate One fan pointed out, “Rejoice? In Latin America we already got the PPVs for free as part of our basic cable package, basic cable its pretty much free with a decent internet plan do this would be an aditional expense if I didn’t know where to stream.” For many Latin American fans, this move feels like a downgrade. In countries like Brazil or Mexico, UFC has been part of affordable cable bundles, often linked to internet deals. Now, switching to Paramount+ could mean paying extra just to keep watching what was once included. It’s a reminder that “accessibility” in one market for Dana White’s promotion might mean exclusivity in another. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Someone else questioned, “So is Canada the only country still gonna be paying for ppv??” It’s a fair question. The United States and Canada have long remained tied to the pay-per-view model, reportedly shelling out upwards of $80 per event. With the new streaming structure, Latin America and Australia might actually enjoy a cheaper deal overall, creating a strange global imbalance in pricing and access. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad However, one fan warned, “Don’t get too excited Aussies this is essentially a glorified Fight pass deal we don’t get PPVs just the fight night cards and PPV prelims so the exact same deal we have on fight pass.” This reaction reflects a familiar skepticism in the Australian market. If Paramount+ only replicates the current UFC Fight Pass deal, fans there could be left underwhelmed. The promo promised a big leap forward, but the fine print might reveal a lateral move, not a revolution. What do you think? Another user explained, “That is actually bad for Latam users since we watch the UFC through Disney+ (ESPN) which is like 18usd a month. Now, we’re going to need to subscribe to Paramount+ to exclusively keep up with the fights. I think Claro (phone carrier) offers free Paramount+ subscription, though. We’ll see what’s up when the day comes.” Here lies the heart of Latin American frustration with subscription fatigue. As streaming services multiply, so do monthly costs. While some telecom providers like Claro might offer free bundles, fans are wary of juggling multiple platforms to stay caught up with the sport they love. And finally, one fan summed it up perfectly with, “How about us African, European, and Asian fans?” The global nature of the UFC under Dana White’s leadership has always been one of its biggest strengths. Yet, fans from Africa and Asia feel left behind in this latest expansion. As the sport’s reach grows, the challenge for the UFC will be not just expansion, but inclusion. As such, Dana White’s vision for UFC’s Paramount+ era is clear: more global reach, more markets, and more control over distribution. But the fans’ reactions tell another story, a world where streaming borders still divide the sport’s loyal community. Paramount may be building a global mountain of content, but the climb isn’t equal for everyone. As 2026 approaches, the question lingers: will this new era unite fans under one platform or fragment them even further? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
