How to watch every UFC Event, both PPV and Fight Nights, live online with with ESPN+.
ESPN+ is the exclusive home of the UFC. After the UFC and Disney (who owns ESPN) inked a multi-year TV contract in 2019, the bottom line for MMA fans is you will need an ESPN+ subscription to watch the UFC, both PPV and Fight Nights.
PPV events are billed at an additional $79.99 per fight, although the UFC does offer a ESPN Plus + PPV bundle option, which includes an annual ESPN Plus membership and one UFC PPV event, for $99.98.
Watch ESPN Fight Nights and numbered PPV events for an additional $79.99 per event. | $9.99 / month | Sign Up for ESPN+ |
Watch UFC 286 | $79.99 / year | Watch UFC PPV |
ABC, ESPN, FS1, NBC, FOX, CBS, ESPN+, and more. | $69.99 / month | Sign Up for Hulu |
UFC 286 storylines and predictions
One of the biggest storylines heading into UFC 286 is how Kamaru Usman, considered by many to be the greatest UFC Welterweights of all time, will fare after suffering a KO loss at the hands of Leon Edwards the last time they fought in Salt Lake City.
Our UFC 286 prediction: We predict Leon Edwards wins by TKO in round 4.
Why trust this UFC viewing guide?
At Streaming Stadium, we watch sports of all kinds, from the NBA, to MLB, NFL, and NCAAF.
But we are also passionate UFC fans. It would be hard to accuse any of us as being ‘casuals” after our review of Israel Adesanya’s YouTube channel. We tune into every major PPV event as well as the UFC Fight Nights.
UFC PPV Picture Quality and Broadcast Features
Live TV streaming services have been in competition to launch new features that enhance the user experience for viewers. For example, fuboTV and YouTube TV both offer a version of Multiview, where several live games can be watched at the same time. The feature was wildly successful for YouTube TV during the 2023 NCAAB Tournament, which will likely acclerate its full release.
Following suit, UFC PPV events have begun featuring some enhanced cinematography, with an emphasis on excellent close up, slow motion shots of key moments in a fight. In a sport with its fair share of controversy surrounding judging, giving fans that ability to “have a front row seat” may be designed to enhance the credibility of the sport. Having said that, MMA fans should remember who pays the replay booth operators (spoiler, it’s not Ariel Helwani).
The UFC is the only streaming first professional sports league
The UFC is the only “streaming first” major sport, meaning it’s not available with just a cable TV subscription. To watch the UFC, you need an ESPN+ subscription. TV Everywhere is possible with ESPN+ but makes little sense. You can login into ESPN+ using your cable provider, like Spectrum for example, but this doesn’t get you around the requirement of paying for the UFC fight or the ESPN+ subscription. Logging into the “Watch ESPN” with Spectrum, or another cable provider, makes more sense since you can get ESPN content on the ESPN app at no additional charge.
We’d recommend just signing up for an ESPN+ account and ditching the cable box altogether.
A basic ESPN+ subscription will give you access to all of the UFC Fight Night Events for no additional charge. As we mentioned above, each additional PPV is billed separately and costs $74.99.
The PPV “numbered” events are re-aired a few days after the event airs live, so if you can wait and avoid spoilers in the media, a little patience will make UFC events more affordable.
Which devices can I stream the UFC on?
Since the ESPN app is a must have to watch the UFC, this question can be re-phrased as – which devices can run the ESPN app?
You can watch UFC live events by downloading the ESPN app to the following supported devices:
- Roku Players & TV
- Amazon Fire TV & Tablet
- iPhone, iPad & Apple TV
- Samsung Smart TV
- Android Phone, Tablet & TV
- PlayStation 4 & 5
- X Box One, Series X/S
- Chromecast
- Oculus Go
- Xfinity Flex, X1
As the list of supported devices demonstrates, the UFC is easy to access on mobile, or from a smart TV.
Why Hulu + Live TV is a great option for streaming the UFC + major sports
The UFC and Disney have a long term exclusive TV deal to air fights only on ESPN+. ESPN is owned by Disney. Hulu is owned by Disney.
Put all three of these factors together and Hulu + Live TV becomes an attractive live TV streaming option for MMA fans who want access to more than just combat sports and the ESPN+ lineup of sporting events.
Hulu + Live TV has seamlessly integrated ESPN+ content into its app, which allows fight fans to buy UFC PPV from Hulu directly, and without the need for a separate login.
For cord cutting sports fans who want access to a library of on-demand content, as well as the NFL and NBA coverage ESPN+ doesn’t provide, including staples like Monday Night Football, Hulu + Live TV and Disney+ and ESPN+ are currently offered as a bundle for $72.99 per month.