Paramount Secures UFC Rights, White House Fight Planned/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ UFC CEO Dana White confirmed plans for a historic Fourth of July fight card on the White House South Lawn in 2026, celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. This announcement follows UFC’s $7.7 billion, seven-year streaming deal with Paramount. The landmark event could draw over 20,000 spectators and air live on CBS and Paramount+.
UFC White House Fight Quick Looks
- UFC CEO Dana White says White House fight is “absolutely going to happen” in 2026.
- Paramount signs seven-year, $1.1 billion annual deal for UFC streaming rights starting 2026.
- Event planned for July 4, 2026, to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
- Expected to draw 20,000 fans and broadcast live on CBS.
- Paramount+ to host all UFC content under the new deal.
- Fighter pay projected to increase significantly under the new contract.
- Negotiations began soon after Skydance’s $8 billion merger with Paramount.
- UFC programming such as The Ultimate Fighter may seek new network homes.
- Pay-per-view model remains in place for select events.
- Dana White targets global growth to rival NFL, NBA, and soccer.
Paramount Secures UFC Rights, White House Fight Planned
Deep Look
The UFC is set to make history in 2026 with a spectacle few imagined possible — a championship fight card on the South Lawn of the White House. Dana White, the long-standing face and driving force behind the mixed martial arts giant, confirmed that President Donald Trump’s proposed Fourth of July event will happen as part of America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations.
“Think about that,” White said. “The 250th birthday of the United States of America, the UFC will be on the White House South Lawn live on CBS.” The event is projected to bring in over 20,000 spectators, a sight unlike anything in UFC’s two-decade rise from niche sport to global powerhouse.
The announcement comes on the heels of the UFC’s biggest broadcasting deal to date: a seven-year, $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount, beginning in 2026. Under the deal, all UFC fight cards will be available on Paramount+, with select numbered events simulcast on CBS. This marks a significant increase from ESPN’s current $550 million annual rights deal and represents a major shift in how fans will access UFC content — consolidating programming under a single subscription rather than a mix of network, cable, and pay-per-view outlets.
White’s personal rapport with Trump has been well-documented, and the White House fight card will be the centerpiece of the UFC’s early years with Paramount. Trump first floated the idea of hosting the UFC at the presidential residence in July, positioning it as a marquee event in the country’s semiquincentennial celebrations.
The deal with Paramount also aligns with the recent $8 billion merger between Skydance and Paramount, now under the leadership of David Ellison as chairman and CEO. White praised Ellison’s aggressive business style, saying, “They’re brilliant businessmen, very aggressive, risk takers. These are the kind of guys that I like to be in business with.”
While ESPN, Amazon, and Netflix were all rumored contenders for UFC rights, White noted that Paramount was “a serious player” from the start. The partnership will not only cover U.S. broadcasting but also open the door to exploring international UFC rights in the future.
As the UFC transitions into its new home, White and his matchmakers are already shaping the debut fight card for Paramount. While the main event for the White House fight remains under wraps, White calls it a “1-of-1 event” that will define the brand’s next chapter.
There are still broadcast details to finalize, including potential shifts to the traditional 10 p.m. ET start time for major cards, especially those aired on CBS. UFC’s other shows — The Ultimate Fighter, Road to UFC, and Dana White’s Contender Series — may also find new network homes under the Paramount arrangement.
Fighter pay is expected to benefit from the massive revenue boost. “It will affect fighter pay, big time,” White said. “Every time we win, everybody wins.” Boxer and UFC critic Jake Paul noted that with the decline of overpriced pay-per-views and the new revenue transparency, fighters now have a clearer picture of their worth.
Despite speculation about the end of the pay-per-view model, White insists it’s far from dead. UFC will continue PPV events through its existing ESPN deal for the remainder of the year, and White is also partnering with Saudi Arabia on a boxing venture debuting next year, with potential PPV distribution.
White also sees value in UFC’s vast library of fight footage, which “kills it” in replay views. This archival content will also find a new streaming home once the ESPN deal expires.
As he looks ahead, White’s ambitions extend beyond combat sports. “You have the NFL, the NBA, the UFC, and soccer globally,” he said. “We’re coming for all of them.”
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