Joe Rogan’s enthusiasm was quite high as he discussed the UFC’s partnership with Paramount Plus during a recent episode of his podcast. The longtime UFC commentator couldn’t contain his excitement about what he called a “crazy deal” that promises to revolutionize how fans consume mixed martial arts content.
The seven-year agreement eliminates the traditional pay-per-view model, making all UFC events available to Paramount Plus subscribers at no additional cost. “All the events are going to be available for everybody for free. Every pay-per-view, every fight card that they have from the Apex, which are my favorite,” Rogan explained to his audience.
From a financial perspective, Rogan was quick to highlight the incredible value proposition for fans. With pay-per-view events typically costing around $70 each and Paramount Plus subscriptions running approximately $10 monthly, the math is compelling. “That’s $120 a year. You could watch every UFC pay-per-view. Two UFC pay-per-views like 140 bucks, right?” he calculated, emphasizing the dramatic cost savings.
Rogan believes this accessibility will fundamentally transform the sport’s reach and popularity. “This sport is going to go hypernom because the average person only knows about the stars. You know what I mean? But they’re kind of detached because they’re only watching highlights. Now they get to actually watch about the stars. They’re going to be so much more bought into the sport,” he predicted.
The podcaster praised Paramount’s strategic thinking, calling it a “super smart move” that provides the streaming service with a built-in, passionate audience. “You have a built-in audience that’s immediately going to jump over there because everybody you have to renew your ESPN subscription anywhere,” Rogan noted.
Despite his excitement about the Paramount deal, Rogan expressed some concern about the UFC’s relationship with ESPN. He hopes the promotion maintains its presence on the sports network, recognizing the value of casual viewer exposure through SportsCenter coverage and post-fight programming.
“It’s like having that coverage on Sports Center, that s**t’s huge,” Rogan emphasized, understanding that ESPN’s broader sports audience provides crucial opportunities for converting casual viewers into dedicated MMA fans.
