UFC announces first premium event on Paramount+, change in start times
Summary
The UFC will stage its first premium (non-PPV) event for Paramount+ at T-Mobile Arena — UFC 324 — marking a major distribution shift under a new multi‑year deal with CBS/Paramount+. The card, announced by UFC president Dana White, features two title fights: an interim lightweight bout between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett and women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison defending against Amanda Nunes, who will come out of retirement. The promotion is also moving main-card start times up an hour to 6 p.m. The 2026 schedule will include 13 premium events streaming free to Paramount+ subscribers.
Key Points
- UFC 324 at T‑Mobile Arena is the organisation’s first premium event to stream on Paramount+ rather than be sold as pay‑per‑view.
- The card is headlined by Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title.
- Kayla Harrison defends her women’s bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes, who is returning from retirement.
- Main-card start times will shift earlier, moving up an hour to a 6 p.m. local start.
- The Paramount+ deal includes 13 premium UFC events in 2026 available to subscribers without additional PPV fees.
- The card also features marquee matchups such as Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong, Alexa Grasso vs Rose Namajunas, and Derrick Lewis vs Waldo Cortes Acosta.
- The move signals a broader change in how the UFC distributes marquee events — potentially altering fan access, pay structures and betting markets.
Why should I read this?
Quick and dirty: this changes how you watch big UFC shows. No more mandatory PPV for these premium cards if you’ve got Paramount+. Start times earlier, stacked cards, and Amanda Nunes coming back make it actually worth paying attention — whether you’re a fan, a bettor or you work in sports media.
Author style
Punchy: this isn’t just another scheduling tweak. It’s a clear pivot away from the traditional PPV model to a streaming-first approach with immediate benefits for viewers (and headaches for legacy pay models). If you care about access, cost, or the commercial future of MMA, the details here matter — big time.
