How UFC’s move to Netflix might affect your fight night, Joe Rogan weighs in

The UFC’s current deal with ESPN is ending soon. This has sparked rumors about a new, massive deal with Netflix. The streaming giant is worth over $500 billion. Many fans and insiders are excited about the potential partnership. But Joe Rogan, the longtime UFC commentator, has some doubts.


On his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, he talked about the rumored deal. Rogan and guest Aaron Rodgers discussed what it could mean for UFC fans and fighters. Rodgers said Netflix has a huge audience, with over 300 million subscribers worldwide. He thinks this could help the UFC reach many more people.


“If you want to reach the most people, it’s YouTube and then Netflix,” Rodgers said. But Rogan raised an important question: “Would they be pay-per-view still?” The UFC’s biggest fights usually come as pay-per-view (PPV) events. Fans pay extra to watch these big matches. Netflix usually works on a subscription model, where you pay a fixed amount each month.


Rogan pointed out that some recent boxing events on Netflix, like the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, required an extra fee on top of the subscription. If the company switches to Netflix, this could make things confusing for UFC fans.

Rogan also compared Netflix to ESPN+. ESPN+ currently streams UFC events but has fewer subscribers than Netflix. This means Netflix could bring the UFC to a much larger audience. However, Rogan said the UFC still needs to figure out how to keep making money. The PPV model generates a lot of revenue, and moving away from it could hurt the business.

The UFC has to balance reaching more fans with protecting its income. The rumored Netflix deal could be huge for exposure but tricky for profits. Rogan’s comments show the UFC's challenges as it considers changing its broadcast partners.