For decades, the UFC has been fueled by blood, sweat, and your $79.99. Big fights meant big Pay-Per-View bills, and fans dutifully forked over the cash like it was the price of admission to a very violent Netflix. But the days of that model — and your credit card crying before every main event — are officially numbered.

The UFC’s pay-per-view roots run deep. Boxing pioneered the concept back in 1960, when around 25,000 people physically mailed in $2 to watch Floyd Patterson fight Ingemar Johansson. By 1993, the UFC was in on the action, pulling 86,000 buys for its very first event in Denver. Over time, the broadcasts evolved, but PPVs stayed the cash cow.

Now, the UFC is making what might be its most fan-friendly move ever: ditching the pay-per-view era.

Starting in 2026, the promotion will swap out its ESPN+ deal for a shiny new seven-year, $7.7 billion partnership with Paramount+ and CBS. That means every single UFC event in the United States will be included with your Paramount+ subscription — no extra PPV fee required. Some fights will even air on CBS for free.

Right now, Paramount+ starts at $7.99 a month ($12.99 if you hate ads), and yes, it’s likely that price will creep up once the UFC content arrives. But even with a bump, it’ll be a fraction of what hardcore fans have been paying under the current ESPN+ + PPV setup.

UFC 319 on August 16th will still cost you $79.99 on ESPN+, but come 2026, you can watch every main event, title fight, and grudge match without having to explain to your bank account why you just spent the equivalent of dinner for two on 25 minutes of action.

In short: the pay-per-view era is ending, streaming is taking over, and MMA fans might finally get the rarest win of all — a good deal.