Dana White confirmed that Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), and Road to UFC are not included in the UFC’s new Paramount agreement. The UFC continues exploring broadcast options for these shows.
The seven-year, $7.7 billion U.S. deal between UFC and Paramount covers numbered events and Fight Night cards. White told Sports Business Journal that DWCS does not fall under the agreement.
The press release announcing the deal highlighted UFC events but omitted properties like DWCS, TUF, and Road to UFC. White confirmed that the U.S. rights for DWCS remain undecided.
“Yeah. That could be split up,” White said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”
UFC properties may remain separate from Paramount
Although White did not specifically mention TUF or Road to UFC, the rights for those shows likely remain unsettled. TUF first aired in 2005 on the Paramount Network, then called Spike, alongside Fight Night events. It later moved to FOX and ESPN. Road to UFC has aired exclusively on UFC Fight Pass and may remain there.
DWCS premiered on UFC Fight Pass in 2017 and moved to ESPN+ in 2019 under the UFC-ESPN deal. That contract ends this year, leaving DWCS outside the Paramount agreement and potentially allowing ESPN to keep some UFC content.
White expects ESPN to maintain UFC coverage
White does not anticipate ESPN reducing UFC coverage after 2025. “When we first started out over there, we had some rockiness figuring out how to work together,” White said. “Over the last seven years, we have built an incredible relationship with the company and its people. I see the exact opposite of less coverage happening. We wouldn’t be here today without ESPN, and I plan to maintain that partnership for my career.”
Paramount deal details
The UFC-Paramount agreement guarantees 43 UFC cards, including 13 numbered events and 30 Fight Night cards, on Paramount+. A select number of numbered events, four according to White, may air on CBS, though executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro claim all could appear on the network.
Paramount also receives a 30-day exclusive window to negotiate international UFC broadcasting rights once current deals expire, giving the company first priority for overseas distribution.
