UFC has the simplest US distribution map in major American sports: every event runs through ESPN. The 2019 deal between UFC and ESPN/Disney moved all US Fight Nights and pay-per-views onto the ESPN+ streaming service, ending UFC’s run on traditional cable PPV providers like Comcast and DirecTV. The current rights cycle runs through the end of the 2025 calendar year, with a renewal expected to keep UFC on ESPN+ into the late 2020s.
How to watch UFC legally in the US
There are two products you need to understand:
| Product | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ subscription | $11.99/month or $119.99/year | Every UFC Fight Night main card, full UFC archive, college football, NHL, MLS, La Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup |
| UFC PPV add-on | $79.99 per event | Numbered UFC pay-per-view main cards (UFC 300, 301, 302, etc.) — requires active ESPN+ subscription to purchase |
| Disney Bundle + PPV | varies (launch promos) | Occasional bundle pricing during marquee fight weeks |
The PPV add-on is sold through the ESPN app, ESPN.com or the Disney+ purchase flow. Once purchased, the event streams in the ESPN app on any supported device — there is no separate UFC-branded app required.
Upcoming PPV / Fight Night cards 2025/26
| Date | Event | Card type | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 7, 2026 | UFC 317 (TBA main event) | Numbered PPV | ESPN+ + $79.99 PPV |
| Jun 21, 2026 | UFC Fight Night: Las Vegas | Fight Night | ESPN+ (included) |
| Jul 12, 2026 | UFC 318 | Numbered PPV | ESPN+ + $79.99 PPV |
| Jul 26, 2026 | UFC Fight Night: Abu Dhabi | Fight Night | ESPN+ (included) |
| Aug 16, 2026 | UFC 319 | Numbered PPV | ESPN+ + $79.99 PPV |
| Sep 13, 2026 | UFC 320 | Numbered PPV | ESPN+ + $79.99 PPV |
| Oct 18, 2026 | UFC Fight Night: London | Fight Night | ESPN+ (included) |
| Nov 15, 2026 | UFC 321 | Numbered PPV | ESPN+ + $79.99 PPV |
UFC typically schedules 12 numbered pay-per-views per calendar year alongside roughly 30 Fight Nights. Fight Night cards mostly run from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas; numbered PPVs travel to T-Mobile Arena, Madison Square Garden, the Honda Center and major international venues.
Where to watch by event type
- UFC Fight Night main cards — ESPN+ subscription only. No extra PPV fee. Saturday nights, typically 10:00pm ET main-card start.
- Numbered UFC PPV main cards (UFC 300, etc.) — ESPN+ subscription plus $79.99 PPV purchase. Saturday nights, 10:00pm ET start.
- Late prelims (both event types) — ESPN+ subscription only. Begin around 8:00pm ET.
- Early prelims — Free on ESPN broadcast channel or ESPN News linear cable, also streamed on the ESPN app to any cable/vMVPD subscriber. Begin around 6:00pm ET.
The prelims tier matters: if you have a vMVPD with ESPN (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live, Sling Orange, Fubo), the early prelims are effectively free with no UFC-specific purchase. The ESPN+ subscription kicks in for the late prelims and main card of Fight Nights.
How to watch
- Subscribe to ESPN+ at plus.espn.com — $11.99/month or $119.99/year. The annual plan is $24 cheaper than 12 monthly bills.
- For numbered PPVs, buy the event through the ESPN app on the day of the card or up to a week in advance. Purchase saves to your account and unlocks the stream when the card begins.
- Install the ESPN app on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation, Samsung/LG/Vizio smart TVs, iOS or Android. Sign in with your ESPN account.
- Tune in. ESPN+ runs a UFC hub during fight weeks with weigh-ins, ceremonial press conferences, embedded video series and historic fight archive.
- Stack the prelims. ESPN broadcast (antenna or any vMVPD) carries the early prelims free. Switch to the ESPN app for the late prelims and main card.
Related guides
- ESPN+ — broadcaster guide covering UFC, La Liga, NHL, MLS, college football
- ESPN — main ESPN broadcaster guide
- Soccer — full US soccer streaming map
- Markky Streams Guide homepage
- Markky Streams brand context