Main Card Media

Watching UFC events in 2025 requires navigating multiple platforms and subscription options depending on where you live and what type of event you want to watch. This guide breaks down every way to stream UFC content — from weekly Fight Night cards to numbered pay-per-view events — so you can find the best option for your viewing situation.

UFC in the United States

ESPN+ (The Primary Platform)

In the United States, ESPN+ is the primary home for UFC content. An ESPN+ subscription provides access to UFC Fight Night events (the weekly non-PPV cards), the ESPN-broadcast portion of numbered events’ prelim fights, and the extensive UFC Fight Pass library of archived content. ESPN+ costs approximately $11 per month or $109 per year as of 2025.

ESPN+ subscribers can stream fights on desktop, mobile, tablet, and through smart TV apps. The platform is available on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, and Xbox, among other devices. Setup is straightforward for anyone familiar with streaming services.

UFC Pay-Per-View Events

Numbered UFC events (UFC 300, UFC 301, etc.) are pay-per-view broadcasts that require a separate purchase in addition to an ESPN+ subscription. PPV events are typically priced at $79.99 in the United States as of 2025. These events feature the promotion’s biggest fights and main events.

PPV purchases in the US are made through the ESPN+ platform. You must have an active ESPN+ subscription to purchase UFC PPV events — the subscription alone does not give you access to PPV content, but you cannot buy the PPV without it. The Disney Bundle (which includes ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu) can reduce the per-month cost of the ESPN+ subscription while maintaining PPV purchase eligibility.

UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Pass is the promotion’s dedicated streaming service. It provides access to a library of every UFC fight ever recorded, early preliminary card fights, and some international live events. Fight Pass costs approximately $11.99 per month in the US. It does not replace the need for ESPN+ for US fans who want to watch live Fight Night events and PPV prelims, but it is the best platform for historical content and international fight access.

UFC in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) is the primary broadcaster of UFC content. TNT Sports broadcasts both UFC Fight Night events and PPV main cards in the UK, typically at no additional pay-per-view charge beyond the base subscription cost. This represents significantly better value than the US model for fans who watch multiple events per year.

TNT Sports is available through Sky, Virgin Media, and BT broadband as a channel package addition. The discovery+ streaming platform also carries TNT Sports content online for subscribers. UFC Fight Pass is also available in the UK for the historical content library.

UFC in Canada

Canadian UFC fans have access through TSN and RDS for Fight Night events, while PPV events are available through traditional cable and satellite PPV purchases. UFC Fight Pass is also available in Canada and is more commonly used than in the US, as it provides access to some live content that would otherwise require separate purchases.

UFC in Australia

In Australia, Kayo Sports is the primary streaming platform for UFC content. Kayo carries both Fight Night and PPV events as part of its sports streaming package, though main card PPV events may require additional purchase. The UFC Fight Pass library is also available for Australian subscribers.

UFC Fight Pass: The Global Option

UFC Fight Pass is available globally and serves as a useful supplement regardless of country. In addition to its historical content library, Fight Pass provides live access to early prelim fights that are not broadcast on main regional platforms, international events, and non-UFC content including various martial arts from around the world.

For viewers who want the deepest possible access to UFC content — going back through the entire history of the organization’s fights — Fight Pass is the only platform that provides this comprehensively. The archive includes Pride FC, WEC, Strikeforce, and other absorbed promotions in addition to all UFC events.

How to Watch UFC Fight Night for Free

Some UFC Fight Night events are broadcast on ESPN (the linear cable channel) rather than exclusively on ESPN+. When this occurs, the main card of those events is available to anyone with a basic cable or satellite package, or through the ESPN app with a TV provider login. The specific events that receive ESPN broadcast exposure change based on the UFC’s broadcast agreement.

Free trial periods offered by ESPN+ (if available during any promotional period) provide a temporary window to watch content without payment. However, as of 2025, new subscriber trials for ESPN+ are limited in availability, so this option is not reliably available.

Understanding the UFC Event Structure

UFC events are structured in tiers that affect where they are broadcast. Numbered events (UFC 300, UFC Fight Night, etc.) are the biggest cards with the most significant fights. UFC Fight Night events are weekly or bi-weekly cards featuring ranked fighters but without the marquee star power of numbered events.

Within each event, the structure moves from early prelims to prelims to the main card. Main cards are the five fights broadcast in prime time; prelims come before them and are typically on ESPN or ESPN+; early prelims are usually exclusive to ESPN+ or Fight Pass in the US.

The best fights on any card are typically reserved for the main card, with the main event and co-main event being the headliners. Championship fights almost always appear in the main event position on numbered events, making the main card the essential viewing for title fight fans.

UFC on Social Media and YouTube

The UFC’s official YouTube channel and social media accounts publish highlights, full fight replays (of older fights), press conferences, and pre-fight promotional content. This free content is valuable for fans who want to research fighters, understand upcoming matchups, or simply catch up on historic bouts without a Fight Pass subscription.

The UFC regularly releases full fights on YouTube, particularly from the early years of the organization. These are a great resource for fans who want to explore MMA history without additional subscription costs.