Company Man Michael Chandler ‘Surprised’ at UFC’s $7.7 Billion Deal Placement and Scrapped PPV Model

Michael Chandler surprised $7.7billion seven-year UFC deal announced to Paramount and not other networking giants like Netflix.

Company Man Michael Chandler ‘Surprised’ at UFC’s $7.7 Billion Deal Placement and Scrapped PPV Model

Michael Chandler was first to rep Paramount with $7.7B deal going live (Source: X)

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The UFC’s agreement with ESPN to air its fights will end at the close of this year. A fresh chapter commences in 2026 as Paramount wrestles away exclusive rights from ESPN+ and the costly pay-per-view system that has been in effect for ages. Michael Chandler, however, wasn’t expecting the deal to land here.

Michael Chandler was one of the very first to react to the $7.7B broadcast deal with Paramount+ in the very first hour. He even repped a brand T-shirt with a logo on his socials, and fans were quick to mock that rival Tony Ferguson was right about Chandler’s bossman privileges. Despite the early exposure to the news and merch collection, ‘Iron’ said he had thought differently about the deal.

I was extremely surprised this morning when I saw the news being broke that it was Paramount…I never even really thought about Paramount. There was a lot of speculation that we were going to end up on Netflix. Makes a lot of sense. TKO Group, WWE… But it also does make sense to spread your products across multiple different streaming platforms.

Michael Chandler on his official YT Channel

Per Chandler, Netflix made all the sense in the world. With the price boom from $59.99 at launch to the current $79.99 cost in 2023, and bordering $80 for ESPN/ESPN+ subscriptions, the alternative seemed better.

The month-by-month subscription framework there sat at a Standard with Ads ($7.99), Standard ($17.99), and Premium ($24.99). After the 10-year, $5 billion deal with sister company WWE, Netflix was an early frontrunner for the matter.

By now, Netflix is a stout player in the game, making Tudum’s list with WWE broadcasts. Once-WBA, WBC, and IBF beltholder Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul also headlined the MVP’s Netflix boxing schedule at the famed Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T. So, there was much anticipation that the media rights would go to Netflix instead of Paramount+.

Dana White contradicts TKO head and says PPV not dead, part of UFC broadcast still up for grabs

TKO Group President Mark Shapiro told CNBC that MMA, generic sports, boxing, and even movies on DirecTV are moving away from the PPV model. The number of PPV sales have lessened over the years. However, UFC CEO Dana White later contradicted, and said the death to Pay-per-view was not a thing.

Michael Chandler and his predicted White House return can happen on PPV or other esteemed networks
Michael Chandler and his predicted White House return can happen on PPV or other esteemed networks (Source: X)

Later on, White told CBS Sports that the broadcast network would only be airing four major events per year. Occasional events are made available on ABC as part of the current broadcast plan with ESPN and ABC, but it is generally Fight Nights, not major numbered events, that are featured.

With White’s bombshell comes the fact that certain high-profile bouts can still land on PPV sometimes, like the White House concept card for next year. Michael Chandler vs. Conor McGregor or Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall seems unlikely, but not impossible. If CBS Live does not get it, PPV or other networks like Netflix would be a good spot to land on.

Additionally, Paramount first inherited the broadcast deal to 30 Fight Night cards, but in 48 hours, it slowly seeped in for the whole take. However, per White, DWCS, Power Slap, and ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ are still up for grabs.

With a monthly pass starting at $9.99, one can watch live fights from Shooto Brazil, Cage Warriors FC, Fusion Fighting Championship, and more that ESPN used to broadcast. The Fight PASS Invitational, DWCS, and upcoming sections of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational BJJ contracts could find new homes in the coming years.

Anyway, UFC is marked for big changes, and White even mentioned that with yearly subscription pricing drops, the sport ought to grow multiple-fold now.

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