ESPN Pins Down Second UFC TV Deal

Fox and ESPN appeared to be involved in a no-holds-barred battle for action sports dominance.

On the heels of Fox agreeing to a $1 billion deal with the WWE that locks down SmackDown Live for the next five years, ESPN has wrest(l)ed control of UFC’s television rights from Fox.

According to Variety, ESPN inked a second deal with UFC for the digital rights to broadcast an additional 15 events per year for the next five years. The deal, which was made after ESPN had already purchased the rights to 15 fights, brings the total purchase price to $1.5 billion.

The deal, which includes 15 exclusive fight cards for the new ESPN+ streaming service, starts in January.

UFC events will still be on Pay-per-View and as well as the league’s Fight Pass streaming service.

Meet your guide

Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”