The Paramount Era Begins: Dana White's Historic Announcement Marks the End of Pay-Per-View and the Dawn of UFC's Streaming Revolution

On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, Dana White made an announcement that will fundamentally reshape how millions of combat sports fans consume Ultimate Fighting Championship content. During the halftime of the Cowboys-Chiefs game on CBS, the UFC President revealed the first fight card under the promotion's historic seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount+. UFC 324, scheduled for January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will mark the beginning of an unprecedented era—one where American fans will no longer need to pay for pay-per-view to access premium UFC events.

The implications of this announcement cannot be overstated. For decades, the pay-per-view model has served as the financial backbone of the UFC's revenue structure. Fans have grown accustomed to paying between $70 and $80 for major events, a barrier to entry that necessarily limited the promotion's audience. Now, with the Paramount+ deal, that barrier has been eliminated. Every UFC event will be included with a standard Paramount+ subscription, fundamentally democratizing access to the sport's highest level of competition.

During his halftime broadcast appearance, White confirmed several major fights for UFC 324. Featherweight contender Arnold Allen will face rising prospect Jean Silva in what promises to be a striking showcase. Light Heavyweight contenders Nikita Krylov and Modestas Bukauskas will square off in their own main card matchup. Additionally, the previously leaked fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje is confirmed, adding significant star power to the card. These are not placeholder fights—these are premier matchups that demonstrate the UFC's commitment to putting quality content on this historic first Paramount+ card.

The timing of this announcement, delivered on one of television's biggest days with potentially 50 million viewers tuning into the Cowboys-Chiefs game, shows White's understanding of the magnitude of this moment. The halftime broadcast position ensures maximum visibility for a promotion transitioning from cable and ESPN broadcasts to streaming. It's a masterclass in announcement strategy, using one of the year's most-watched football games to introduce the Paramount era to both hardcore MMA fans and casual observers who might not ordinarily follow the sport.

What makes this transition particularly significant is how it positions the UFC for long-term growth. The streaming model removes the financial friction that has historically limited the promotion's domestic audience. International viewers will gain unprecedented access, and the casual fan who previously balked at paying $80 for an event can now sample UFC events as part of their existing streaming subscription. From a business perspective, this is exactly how a $7.7 billion media deal should be deployed—not as a retention tool for existing customers, but as a gateway drug for new ones.

The absence of Ilia Topuria from UFC 324 creates an interesting narrative hole. The lightweight champion is sidelined until spring 2026 with injury recovery, leaving the event without its marquee champion. However, White hinted during the announcement that a lightweight title fight remains possible, with Justin Gaethje or Paddy Pimblett potentially stepping into a championship opportunity. The psychology of this—a future title fight announcement—keeps the speculation alive and maintains narrative momentum for the Paramount launch card.

This represents a seismic shift in how combat sports will be distributed in the United States. Streaming services have gradually consumed traditional sports broadcasting, but the UFC's full integration into Paramount+ marks the completion of that transformation. No more split broadcasts. No more choosing between cable and PPV. Just one destination for all things UFC, included with a subscription that also offers entertainment, sports, and streaming content across multiple platforms.

History will likely view Dana White's halftime announcement as a pivotal moment for the promotion. The Paramount era begins January 24, 2026. What that era looks like—and whether the strategy of inclusion over exclusivity proves financially superior—will define the UFC's next chapter.