Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, and TKO Group Holdings have agreed to a long-term media rights deal that will make Paramount+ the exclusive home of Zuffa Boxing in the United States, Canada, and Latin America beginning in January 2026.
The move represents another aggressive push by both companies to strengthen their positioning in live sports. While also showcasing the growing appetite for combat sports beyond mixed martial arts and professional wrestling.
Zuffa Boxing is the newly launched boxing promotion from TKO and entertainment conglomerate Sela. It features a leadership group featuring UFC President and CEO Dana White, Saudi Boxing Federation President HE Turki Alalshikh, Sela Managing Director Dr. Rakan Alharthy, and WWE President Nick Khan, who also sits on TKO’s board.
The promotion will debut with 12 events in its first year. All available on Paramount+, with plans for the schedule to expand in subsequent years. Select events could also be simulcast on CBS or other Paramount platforms. This allows the company added flexibility to reach mass audiences.
White said the partnership creates a unique opportunity to give fans a consistent home for marquee boxing content.
“I’m excited to bring great boxing events to a global audience,” White said. “There are millions of boxing fans that will now be able to watch competitive fights with up-and-coming boxers as well as the biggest stars in the sport. Paramount will be the home for UFC and boxing fans to watch the greatest fights in combat sports.”
For Alalshikh, who has been a central figure in the recent global surge of high-profile boxing events, the agreement underscores a vision of accessibility and innovation.
“This partnership with Paramount reinforces our vision to redefine the way viewers consume boxing,” he said. “More fight fans will now have access to watch some of the most exciting boxers around. We have seen the proof that the appetite is there. This is the future for live boxing coverage and will ensure the sport continues to thrive.”
Paramount leadership sees the deal as a natural extension of its sports strategy. Cindy Holland, Chair of Direct-to-Consumer for Paramount, called it a “bold new chapter” for both the company and the sport.
“It’s a partnership that advances several of our core priorities: delivering premium sports to fans, providing audiences with year-round marquee live events, and creating long-term value through a differentiated, must-watch portfolio of content,” Holland said.
The announcement further solidifies Paramount’s role in combat sports, as the company will already distribute UFC events beginning in 2026.
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