ESPN Pins Down Second UFC TV Deal

ESPN has now committed $1.5 billion for the rights to 30 UFC fights.

LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 31:  Georges St-Pierre (black shorts) def. BJ Penn (white shorts) - TKO - 5:00 round 4 during UFC 94 at MGM Grand Arena on January 31, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 31: Georges St-Pierre (black shorts) def. BJ Penn (white shorts) - TKO - 5:00 round 4 during UFC 94 at MGM Grand Arena on January 31, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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.

Win the Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Experience

Want the F1 experience of a lifetime? Here’s your chance to win tickets to see Turn 18 Grandstand, one of Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix’s most premier grandstands!