Canadian MMA fans will no longer need to shell out hefty Pay-Per-View fees for UFC numbered events starting in 2027.
On Thursday, promotion officials announced that the UFC had signed a deal with Paramount+ (Paramount Skydance) to provide UFC numbered events, formerly sold on PPV, as part of their Canadian flavour of the streaming service.
The deal will only include numbered UFC cards, as Rogers SportsNet retains the rights to most (but not all) Fight Night events in Canada. It also only covers main cards, with the prelims expected to remain on their current broadcast home.
Still, it’s big news for Canadian MMA fans, and aligns the promotion more with their U.S. footprint, where all UFC content is carried on Paramount+.
The Paramount deal for the UFC’s Canadian numbered cards is set to run for six years, which would put the Canadian rights up for renewal at the same time the UFC’s deal with Paramount+ as a whole comes to an end.
The UFC returned to SportsNet in Canada, where it aired in the early 2010s, in 2024 after a stint on TSN. That year saw the promotion launch a multi-year partnership with the cable sports outlet, however the PPV model remained in place for the promotion’s largest events.
“Beginning in 2027, Paramount+ subscribers in Canada will get every UFC Numbered Event main card live, at no additional cost,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White in a press release issued on Thursday. “Paramount has been an incredible partner that understands the power of UFC, and together we’re going to make it easier than ever for fans in Canada to watch the biggest fights in the sport. I love Canada and I’m very excited for the fans to be able to enjoy the Paramount experience.”
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