The UFC and ESPN’s exclusive window for the negotiation for the broadcast rights is done and dusted, and now, the promotion is in the market for other major networks to bid for their broadcasting rights. According to rumors, the UFC is targeting many online streaming services, including Netflix, with a $1 billion per year demand in Dana White‘s promotion’s next deal. But it seems like the streaming giants are playing coy with the UFC.
The UFC’s deal with ESPN will expire soon because the two parties didn’t come to an agreement during their negotiation period. The UFC’s $1 billion demand may have rubbed the network in the wrong way since reports suggest that they weren’t happy with the decline in PPV sales. Moreover, they don’t even think that there’s a considerable amount of star power on the roster. This is where the Netflix rumors took shape.
There’s no doubt how big of a platform Netflix has proven to be. The first combat sports event they ever streamed, the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson boxing match, broke many records, and even their server crashed due to the surge in concurrent users. So what’s stopping UFC from getting the same reception from the users on Netflix? Well, reports have come in, and it seems Dana White will have to wait to get a deal with this streaming service because its CEO claims to be satisfied with the current arrangement that they have when it comes to streaming live events.
“Our live event strategy is unchanged … we remain really focused on the big, breakthrough events,” said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, as reported by famed MMA reporter Damon Martin. “Our audiences love them … live is a relatively small part of our content spend.” Well, this statement certainly put some cold water on the speculations.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos was asked about UFC and other sports rights coming available:
“Our live event strategy is unchanged … we remain really focused on the big, breakthrough events. Our audiences love them … live is a relatively small part of our content spend”#UFC
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 17, 2025
While the Netflix brass appear to show no interest in the UFC broadcast rights, Damon Martin believes that they could change their position. As he vaguely recalled the streaming service taking a similar stance before signing the $5 billion deal with the WWE last year, he’s confident that Netflix will take the same route with Dana White’s promotion.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding where the UFC might end up viewing its product, Dana White has shared his thoughts on the partnership he had with ESPN. Even though they didn’t come to an agreement, the 55-year-old had nothing but good things to say about his promotion’s outgoing partner. Here’s what White had to say.
Dana White heaps praise on ESPN amidst uncertainty with Netflix
Before the negotiation window for the UFC and ESPN closed this past Tuesday, Dana White gave his honest take on working with the network. Well, he seems to have made a lot of friends over there because he couldn’t stop telling how much he’s grown akin to them. “I like ESPN. I’ve said it many times,” the UFC CEO told MMA Junkie. While acknowledging the fact that things weren’t always going well between the UFC and ESPN, he appeared to have enjoyed the number of years working with them as partners, while talking about exploring other options after the window closes, which it has.
“We had a bit of a rocky start, which is normal in any relationship, but we’re in a great place with ESPN. Whether we re-sign with them or do not, I have nothing but great things to say about my time at ESPN,” Dana White added. “We do what works for the network – what do they want to do? Do they want to just put it on their air? Do they want to do pay-per-view? Do they want to put it behind a paywall? I don’t know any of those things. Tuesday, the window opens and we start talking to other networks, and we’ll get more into that.”
It is only a matter of time before we get to know where the UFC’s broadcasting rights go, but given that its sister promotion is already under the Netflix tree, it won’t be a surprise if they end up there, too. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
The post Another Twist Amid ESPN Contract Expiry as Dana White and UFC’s $1B Demand Gets Clear Message From Netflix CEO appeared first on EssentiallySports.