The UFC’s US broadcast rights have lived on Disney since 2018. The 2024 contract extension keeps the structure intact through the end of the decade: PPV main cards and most Fight Nights on ESPN+, a small ABC simulcast slate, and the international and historical content on UFC Fight Pass.
The 2025-26 broadcaster map
ESPN+ is the primary US home of the UFC. The streaming service carries every PPV main card (with the PPV charge purchased on top of the ESPN+ subscription), every Fight Night main card, and the televised prelim slate for both event types. ESPN+ standalone runs at $11.99 monthly, or as part of the Disney Bundle with Disney+ and Hulu at $14.99 monthly.
ABC simulcasts roughly four UFC main cards per year on the over-the-air linear network, typically the highest-profile US-anchored events. These cards remain on ESPN+ but are also accessible without an ESPN+ subscription on the night of the simulcast.
UFC Fight Pass at $9.99 monthly carries the international Fight Night calendar (European and Australasian events that fall outside the ESPN+ exclusive window), every UFC Apex card without ESPN+ overlap, and the historical library back to UFC 1 in 1993. Fight Pass also carries third-party promotions including Eagle FC, PFL prelims and a number of regional MMA promotions.
How PPV pricing works in 2025-26
UFC PPV main cards in the United States are priced at $79.99 per event for ESPN+ subscribers, and $99.98 as a bundled first-month ESPN+ subscription plus PPV for non-subscribers. That pricing has held since the 2023 cycle and there is no public indication it will move before the 2026-27 contract renegotiation window.
Prelim cards remain free to ESPN+ subscribers and air on the ESPN linear cable channel in the lead-in window for most events. The early prelims run on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass simultaneously.
A practical Saturday-night plan
A standard PPV Saturday in the US runs:
- 18:00 ET: early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass
- 20:00 ET: televised prelims on ESPN and ESPN+
- 22:00 ET: PPV main card on ESPN+ (PPV purchase required)
Fight Night cards skip the PPV tier and run a single late-evening prelim window followed by the main card, all included with the base ESPN+ subscription. There are roughly 30 Fight Nights and 12 PPVs in a UFC calendar year.
The annual UFC subscription footprint
For a fan who buys every PPV, the math is roughly: $11.99 monthly ESPN+ × 12 = $144, plus 12 PPV cards × $79.99 = $960, for an annual total of about $1,100. The Disney Bundle path at $14.99 monthly works out slightly higher but adds Disney+ and Hulu.
For a fan who only watches Fight Nights and the free ABC simulcasts, the cost is $11.99 monthly for ESPN+, or about $144 annually. The free ABC main cards each year cover roughly four of the highest-profile fights without any subscription cost.
How the UFC broadcasts in Canada and the UK
UFC rights in Canada live on TSN and TSN+ (the streaming companion). UFC rights in the United Kingdom live on TNT Sports. The card structure and start times are the same; only the broadcaster name on the screen changes.
For UFC coverage on partner editorial guides, see the UFC streaming guide on Methstreams.