UFC reportedly set to follow WWE's Netflix route after $1.5 billion ESPN deal expires  

An MMA journalist recently suggested that the UFC might follow WWE's lead by partnering with Netflix. This comes after UFC's current partnership with ESPN is set to end next year.

The UFC has had a successful year, continuing its upward growth trajectory. However, in the coming year, the promotion’s five-year, $1.5 billion deal with ESPN, starting in 2019, will come to an end.

MMA Fighting reporter Damon Martin took to X to share insights from industry professionals who believe Netflix might become the UFC's broadcasting partner. Martin wrote:

“A lot of industry folks seem to believe Netflix is the leading candidate to land at least part of the UFC's broadcast rights after 2025. Next year is gonna be very big for the UFC.”

Recently, WWE's Monday Night Raw transitioned from the USA Network to Netflix after signing a massive 10-year deal worth $5 billion.

Netflix has also ventured into live sports, streaming the bout between boxing legend Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. The event worked in Netflix's favor, drawing more than 60 million households worldwide.

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UFC CEO Dana White shares his experience of watching Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on Netflix

Many people reported experiencing buffering or streaming issues while watching Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on Netflix. Speaking to Sports Business Journal, UFC CEO Dana White shared his experience and stated that he didn't face any issues.

“I was in a hotel room in New York, and I didn’t have a bad experience. It was a little grainy here and there, but I didn’t have a horrible experience. I’ve seen some other people say they did, but I didn’t.” (4:13)

White further revealed that the organization is open to exploring new broadcasting partners and might adopt a strategy similar to WWE and the NFL by dividing its content among various platforms.

“We’re the biggest pay-per-view provider on the planet, I think we’re going to do very well going into this next deal. I think as we go into our negotiations in 2025, this thing could play out in a lot of different ways. Obviously we could be with Disney and ESPN for however many years or you could see all our content get chopped up like WWE and NFL does and different products going to different networks. I don’t know how that’s going to play out as we get closer to getting into these negotiations, but it is a possibility.” (10:34)

Check out Dana White's comments below: