Currently, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in active discussions with powerhouses Netflix, Amazon Prime, and ESPN+ for potential broadcast rights deals. Both Netflix and Amazon Prime lead ESPN+ by a large margin in terms of customer base, suggesting a more significant viewer boost should the UFC collaborate with them. In an effort to escalate their viewer counts, the UFC might be strongly considering holding back high-profile bouts until an accord is reached with either Netflix or Amazon Prime.
The thrill and popularity connected to the UFC have seen a slight downtick in recent years, with a particular slump in fan fervor seen in the first half of 2025. Several factors have been put forward as potential culprits behind the decline, such as premature technical knockouts, diminishing grit from athletes, and a dearth of notable personalities, however, the true cause remains obscure. Regardless, none of these challenges contribute to the core issue of wavering event anticipation and quality.
The interaction between the UFC and its fan base has been less than ideal in 2025. The impending broadcast rights expiration towards the end of 2025 has stirred a wave of uncertainty among the fans, contributing significantly to dwindling interest. Unfortunately, much-anticipated fights are getting postponed, further diluting fan enthusiasm.
As it currently stands, ESPN+ holds exclusive rights to broadcast UFC fight nights and remains the sole platform for purchasing Pay-Per-Views (PPVs). Alas, this collaboration is slated to end as 2025 draws to a close. As a result, the UFC is exploring the possibility of more lucrative partnerships elsewhere.
The UFC is in active negotiations with streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime, and this rights conflict greatly influences the organization’s ongoing operations. Dana White and his team at the UFC may be zealous for a potential agreement with Netflix or Amazon Prime, as they anticipate such a collaboration could bring in more viewers compared to their existing partnership with ESPN+.
The delay in headline-grabbing fights such as Islam Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria could be a strategic move by the UFC. They likely are on pause as they carefully evaluate their options and decide on the most beneficial agreement. Netflix, boasting a robust user base exceeding 300 million, is seen as the world’s most popular streaming service and is a strong contender in the ongoing negotiations.
Close on Netflix’s heels is Amazon Prime, another heavyweight in the streaming domain. Conversely, ESPN+ trails behind with a significantly smaller audience of about 25 million subscribers. This disparity in viewership scales means that a UFC event broadcast on ESPN+ would reach a much smaller audience compared to either Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Understanding this reality, the UFC may be consciously postponing major events, anticipating the prospect of them being viewed by a broader audience with possibly a new broadcast partner. The fate of the UFC’s second half of 2025 hangs in the balance as they navigate the tricky terrain of broadcast rights negotiations.
Unfortunately, UFC viewership is taking a hit due to these ongoing negotiations, and the trajectory of fan interest may vary depending on the streaming service that the UFC aligns with moving into 2026. Despite the precarious trend, some UFC fans remain hopeful for a resurgence in the summer.
If the UFC eventually forges a partnership with Netflix or Amazon Prime, it may imply that the concluding months of 2025 will showcase filler fights and save bigger showdowns involving high-profile stars for the following year. Such a strategic decision by the UFC could be due to the potential of greatly expanded viewer access through these platforms.
However, if ESPN+ manages to retain their position as the UFC’s primary broadcasting partner, then fans may anticipate a more robust schedule of captivating fights for the remainder of the year. The different scenarios stemming from the broadcast rights negotiations have injected a sense of uncertainty into the UFC’s future.
Negotiations continue to evolve, and the future direction of the UFC hinges on the outcome. It’s clear that the landscape of the UFC is changing and how these negotiations end may be the turning point for the organization and its fan base.