Ex-UFC Champ Speaks Out After The UFC's Paramount Deal

Former UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley believes the UFC’s new deal with Paramount+ will not result in more money for the majority of its fighters.

The UFC is leaving ESPN for a massive seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount+ that begins in 2026. This new deal makes Paramount the exclusive U.S. home for all UFC events, with Fight Nights and numbered cards streaming on Paramount+ and some major events airing on CBS. Woodley expressed his skepticism, stating that only a select few superstars—like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and Ilia Topuria—will benefit from the deal.

Woodley Reacts

"I think the benefits of it is mostly going to stay at the top. No fighter is going to go in there with a calculator to see what a non-pay-per-view situation equates to them. "[…] You’ve got Conor McGregor, you’ve got Jon Jones, and you’ve got Ilia Topuria. Outside of those three, nobody can really go into a UFC office and really try to poke their chest out and say, ‘Oh, you’ve got a bigger deal.

"I should get more money.’ Because unless you’re a champion defending your belt, unless you’re a Conor or another star that’s bringing a lot of eyeballs to the fight, you’re not in a position to get the pay-per-view anyway. Your purse is going to be your purse," Woodley said

The UFC’s promotion strategy is built around a small number of elite, high-earning fighters who drive the most revenue. The UFC is willing to pay these fighters a premium because they are the ones selling tickets and generating pay-per-view buys. The vast majority of the roster, however, serves as the supporting cast.

The new Paramount+ deal, by putting all content in one place, may shift the focus from pay-per-view buys to subscription numbers, but the core principle remains: the biggest stars will get the biggest checks. A lesser-known fighter on a "Fight Night" card, for instance, is unlikely to see their earnings increase simply because the broadcast moved from ESPN+ to Paramount+. 

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