Joe Rogan says the UFC’s new broadcast deal with Paramount could send MMA into a “hypernova” era.
Having been with the UFC through multiple broadcast eras — from Spike TV to FOX to ESPN — Rogan believes this latest move might be the most game-changing yet. The UFC has signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to stream events exclusively on Paramount+, with select shows airing on CBS. This agreement includes UFC pay-per-views, effectively ending the traditional PPV model fans have known for decades.
With Paramount+’s ad-free tier priced at $119.99 a year, Rogan sees the deal as a massive win for fans and a golden opportunity to bring more eyes to MMA.
“Through the roof,” Rogan said on his podcast. “And it’s a super smart move for Paramount. What a great move to not just have the UFC for seven years, but to have it for free. How much does it cost a month? Ten bucks, let’s say it’s ten bucks. That’s crazy. That’s $120 a year, you can watch every UFC pay-per-view? Two UFC pay-per-views is, like, 140 bucks, right? So you get all of them. Everything’s free? That’s incredible. This sport is going to go f*cking hypernova.”
The deal officially kicks off on Jan. 1, marking the end of the UFC’s ESPN era, which began in 2019. Under ESPN, UFC events aired on its TV network and ESPN+, with pay-per-views sold exclusively through the streaming service. The network also boosted MMA’s profile through constant coverage and on-screen analysis from former fighters like Daniel Cormier.
Rogan hopes the UFC and ESPN keep working together despite the new deal.
“I’m kind of bummed out, and I hope they don’t lose the relationship that they had with ESPN with all their MMA shows,” Rogan said. “I hope it’s a mutually beneficial thing, like the UFC at least does some content still on ESPN, because I think that’s also a big factor in pulling people from casual viewers that watch other sports… Having that coverage on SportsCenter, that shit’s huge. Having those post-fight shows on ESPN+, that shit is huge for the real dorks like me, that’s huge.”
Concerns about ESPN cutting back on UFC coverage may be premature. TKO Group Holdings recently signed a deal to make ESPN the U.S. home for WWE’s premium live events, and given TKO’s ties to UFC, MMA could still have a strong presence on the network.
Dana White also addressed Rogan’s role after the Paramount deal, assuring fans that Joe Rogan will remain a key voice at the commentary desk for most numbered events. While Rogan has reduced his schedule over the years due to other commitments, White made it clear that his presence isn’t going anywhere.
