UFC Reaches Agreement to Stream 15 Live Events on ESPN+ Beginning in 2019

UFC reaches groundbreaking deal with Walt Disney Company and ESPN https://t.co/9z2s8KTSB1 pic.twitter.com/FXQhI9DLFz

— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2018

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will officially be moving to at least one new platform beginning in 2019.

The Las Vegas-based promotion announced Tuesday that it has reached an “immersive, multi-year rights agreement for exclusive content on ESPN+, as well as across a variety of ESPN’s television social and digital platforms” beginning in 2019.

The main component of the deal is 15 UFC events to be branded UFC on ESPN+ Fight Night over the course of next year. Each card will be composed of 12 bouts, according to a release. In addition to those live, exclusive events, the ESPN+ partnership with the UFC will include the following programming:

-Exclusive, all new-seasons of “Dana White’s Contender Series” beginning in June 2019
-A new original, all-access series produced by IMG Original Content 
-Exclusive pre- and post-event shows for all 15 “UFC on ESPN+ Fight Nights”
-Non-exclusive access to UFC’s full archive of programming, including historic events, classic bouts, and original programming
-Additional UFC-branded content, including “UFC Countdown” shows, press conferences, weigh-ins, and pre-and post-shows

Consumers will also be able to watch UFC Fight Pass and UFC pay-per-view events through ESPN+ at a separate cost. No further details were given regarding the future of UFC Fight Pass, which is the promotion’s own digital streaming service.

“I couldn’t be more excited to partner with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN on an agreement that will continue to grow our sport,” UFC President Dana White said in a release. “UFC has always done deals with the right partners at the right time and this one is no exception. We will now have the ability to deliver fights to our young fan base wherever they are and whenever they want it. This deal is a home run for ESPN and UFC.”

ESPN+ is the sports cable network’s recently launched digital streaming service, available for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The content on the service is intended to complement ESPN’s television programming. In addition to the UFC, the ESPN+ carries events such as baseball, hockey, boxing, college sports, soccer, tennis, rugby and cricket. It has not, however, been marketed as a replacement for traditional ESPN cable channels. Viewers can subscribe to ESPN+ through the ESPN App or by visiting ESPNPlus.com.

“One of our goals for ESPN+ is to bring sports fans of all genres content they love and are passionate about, and this agreement with UFC is illustrative of exactly that,” said Kevin Mayer, chairman, direct to consumer and international, the Walt Disney Company. “We look forward to providing UFC’s enthusiastic, growing fan base with a wide array of live events and building a lasting relationship with the industry leader in mixed martial arts.”