How to Watch UFC Fights on an iPhone or iPad

Bottom line: you can watch the UFC on your iPhone, but you’ll need an ESPN Plus subscription, which is $6.99 per month, and the ESPN app dowloaded on your phone.

As I’ve been open about in previous posts, I am a big UFC fan, and have been for a number of years now. MMA is a great sport that, while violent, highlights some of the best martial artists in the world.

However, as most, or at least many, UFC fans can attest, MMA is not everyone’s cup of tea. For some, the fights are stressful, and the commentary too loud and full of drama. My wife definitely isn’t a UFC fan like I am. She prefers that I watch UFC in a den away from the family, or on a device that I can connect to a good pair of headphones.

They say a good marriage requires compromise, and with that rule in mind, I often stream UFC events on my iPhone or MacBook Pro. In fact, I’ve been known to keep track of a daytime UFC event on my iPhone while on a diaper run. Luckily for us clandestine UFC fans, streaming UFC on mobile is easy with an ESPN Plus subscription.

Watch UFC on a Mobile Device in 4 Easy Steps

To watch the UFC on an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps:

Download the ESPN app
Open the ESPN app and select ESPN Plus (designated by a + icon at the bottom of screen navigation)
If you haven’t already, subscribe to ESPN Plus for $6.99 per month (for Fight Night events this is the only step needed)
For PPV events, the cost is an additional $69.99 on top of the $6.99 monthly ESPN Plus subscription

UFC Fight Night vs. PPV cost and mobile options

UFC Fight Night events, often reserved for fighters trying to make their way to a top 5 ranking or for number one contender eliminators, are not free. You will still have to sign up for an ESPN Plus subscription to access the stream, and you can watch on an iPhone of iPad. The “numbered” UFC events are PPV, meaning you have to pay extra to get these fights.

Dana White’s Contender Series and TUF

The same rules apply for Dana White’s Contender series and The Ultimate Fighter. These additional UFC events require an ESPN Plus subscription to stream on any device, including an iPhone.