Zuffa Boxing could quickly be a part of the UFC at Paramount.
The brand new boxing promotion formally being launched in 2026 by TKO Group Holdings, father or mother firm to the UFC, with monetary backing from Saudi Arabia, is reportedly nearing a multi-year cope with Paramount.
John Ourand at The Puck reported on Saturday that Zuffa Boxing was “doubtless” signing with Paramount with an announcement anticipated “as quickly as subsequent week.” That tracks with further sources telling MMA Combating that Zuffa Boxing is prone to shut on a broadcast rights deal very quickly.
UFC CEO Dana White teased some potential information approaching social media with a publish that mirrored one he dropped a day earlier than the UFC saying a landmark seven yr deal value $7.7 billion with Paramount that kicks off subsequent yr. White then deleted that publish and admitted he jumped the gun however all indicators pointed in the direction of the Zuffa Boxing broadcast deal coming quickly.
“I might simply let you know that we’re anticipating with the boxing group that we’re placing on a median of name it 12 fights a yr, 12 playing cards a yr for every of the following 5 years,” TKO president and chief working officer Mark Shapiro stated throughout a quarterly monetary name with traders in Might. “Nonetheless placing that plan collectively and clearly working hand in hand with our associates from Saudi.”
Along with the common combat playing cards, Zuffa Boxing plans to placed on “two to 3 superfights” per yr after successfully launching with the promotion of the current Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez card that aired on Netflix.
Executives at TKO together with Shapiro and firm CEO Ari Emanuel have been in talks for a number of months on a possible broadcast deal after a really busy yr that included the UFC’s new partnership with Paramount in addition to WWE shifting the group’s premium stay occasions from Peacock to ESPN.
Whereas White and WWE president Nick Khan are each engaged on Zuffa Boxing, the promotion itself is being absolutely funded by the Saudi Arabia Basic Leisure Authority headed up by Turki Alalshikh.
Assuming this deal closes, each the UFC and Zuffa Boxing would start airing occasions on Paramount beginning in 2026.
Paramount, which was merged with Skydance in a multi-billion deal, is led by David Ellison with the backing of his father Larry Ellison, who only recently turned the richest man on the planet. Ellison can be reportedly trying to increase the household’s footprint within the media business with curiosity in doubtlessly buying Warner Bros. Discovery as nicely.
