On Monday morning it was announced that the UFC would be shifting all of its content to Paramount+ beginning on January 1, 2026. It's a seven year deal worth a reported $7.7 billion(with a 'B'). The numbers are certainly staggering, but what was really noteworthy about this deal is that it's being hailed as the end of the pay-per-view model.
Basically, if you have a Paramount+ subscription you will in essence get all of the UFC events. It's also being reported that select events will be aired on CBS for those who still watch that thing called the television. So yeah, it's basically, FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!' (sorry, couldn't resist.) But yeah, UFC is going further mainstream.
For a more detailed look at this pact, here's an article that I recommend:
Meanwhile, this upcoming card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is an interesting hodgepodge of fights. You have rising young heavyweight, Moses Itauma, facing the old warhorse, Dillian Whyte. While another interesting heavyweight battle is scheduled between Filip Hrgovic and David Adeleye. Also on the undercard is WBA feathreweight champion, Nick 'the Wrecking' Ball versus Sam Goodman, and Raymond Ford faces Abraham Nova in a junior lightweight contest.
It's an interesting show -- and as a DAZN subscriber all you need is to fork out another $50. Yeah, boxing is going further and further into niche status.
This is a pay-per-view believe it or not. But should that really surprise any of us at this juncture? Counting this card, this will be their fourth pay-per-view event since June 28. Remember when DAZN proclaimed that pay-per-view is 'dead' (their words not mine)? Show yourself Tracy Morgan!!! You lied to us.
https://snac.com/blogs/k-9-kims-corner/its-bleak
You gotta give DAZN some credit, it takes a lot of gall to not only revive pay-per-view, but to also raise their subscription rates as they have.
A couple of weeks ago Turki Alalshikh, who is either the savior of boxing, or it's ruination -- depending on your agenda -- stated that he was getting rid of pay-per-view for his cards or something to that effect. (Now, this card on Saturday is one of his, but he did state that his edict related to the future.) Is it really the end of pay-per-view, or just part of an expanded (more expensive) subscription?
That remains to be seen. As they say, the devil is in the details.
DAZN
Another interesting note is that it's being reported that Paramount could be getting into business with Turki Alalshikh and Dana White who are now partners in Zuffa Boxing. (https://frontofficesports.com/paramount-tko-turki-alalshikh-zuffa-boxing/). But that's something to monitor for the future.
What took place this week got me thinking about this fancy word, something I'll use once in awhile with my vast education from Montebello High School, the word is: 'juxtaposition'. Now, for those of you who were not blessed to attend 'the Harvard of East LA' this is the definition (per Oxford Languages):
'The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.'
3KR
This week's episode of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez and I features a return in-studio visit from Egis KIimas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw4kaW4aF_Y&t=1s
To subscribe on your preferred podcast platform, click on the Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/3knockdownrule
