Dana White makes defiant UFC fighter pay vow after striking $7.7BILLION broadcast deal.

Increase in UFC Fighters' Fees

According to The Sun: Dana White assures that UFC fighters' fees will rise after signing a new multi-billion dollar broadcasting deal.

Paramount Network won the bid for UFC broadcasting rights in North America, signing a seven-year deal worth an impressive $7.7 billion (£5.7 billion).

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This deal, under which all 43 UFC events per year will be streamed on Paramount+ starting in January 2026, is FIVE TIMES compared to the deal with ESPN made in 2018.

Attention is now focused on what percentage of the revenue fighters will receive after the new deal is signed.

White noted that the fighters' share of promotion revenue, which has been between 18 to 20 percent for the past few years, will increase.

The seasoned promoter said:

“Is it a low-quality question that is easy to answer? Bonuses are definitely going up. There will be big sums, and forget about how the levels rise for all other fighters, just think about how much bonuses for fighters will rise, that’s millions of dollars.”

Dana White, 56, is confident that UFC fighters will benefit from the new deal in the upcoming months and years.

He told Front Office Sports:

“This will be incredible for fighters. We've talked about how great it is for fans and the sport, but fighters will benefit too.”

“We tried to raise fighters' fees whenever we could, even in the beginning when we were incurring losses. And [we] will certainly do it again.”

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When announcing the deal, White noted:

“This historic deal with Paramount and CBS is incredible for UFC fans and our athletes. For the first time in history, fans in the U.S. will have access to all UFC content without a Pay-Per-View model.”

“This will make watching the best fights more accessible on a major platform. This deal places UFC among the biggest sports in the world.”

“The exposure that will be received thanks to Paramount and CBS under this new structure is a huge advantage for our athletes and everyone who watches and loves this sport.”

The first event in the era of UFC and Paramount+ will take place in mid-January.

Traditionally, UFC starts new deals with a big fight, so mixed martial arts fans can expect an impressive main event at the first numbered event of 2026.