Six months into the reported $7.7 billion partnership between the UFC and Paramount+, a frustrating problem has emerged for subscribers: full event replays are unavailable on the platform, and music licensing is the reason why.
The issue was raised at the UFC 329 post-bout press conference Saturday night in Las Vegas, when a reporter put the question directly to UFC president Dana White.
“The one thing I keep hearing about is fans can’t watch full replays on Paramount+. I wonder if you’ve been made aware of this and if this is a strategic choice on their part or why they can’t watch full events.”
White confirmed he was aware and revealed the problem had become personal.
“My kids were t0rturing me that they couldn’t watch the White House event over again,” he said. “It’s not wrong, but the problem is the music. You got to take the walkouts out.”
The walkout music athletes use when entering the arena is cleared for live broadcast, but reproducing it in a replay on a subscription platform requires separate agreements with rights holders. Without those agreements in place, the UFC has been unable to offer subscribers complete event replays on Paramount+.
White was brief on details but confirmed progress is being made.
“We’re working on it,” he said.
The reporter acknowledged experiencing the same problem at home.
White responded, “I’ve been getting t0rtured over this in my own house.”
The problem stands out against the backdrop of what has otherwise been a strong start to the partnership. UFC 329 drew a record gate of $26.4 million, the highest in UFC history, with 20,076 fans in attendance.
The event was widely considered one of the best cards in recent memory, which only adds to the frustration for fans who want to watch it back from start to finish.
For a platform that paid heavily for UFC rights, the absence of complete replays is a real limitation for subscribers. Fans are currently unable to watch the full broadcast package, including fighter walkouts, exactly as it aired live.
