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ESPN Cuts MMA Coverage After UFC Deal Ends

1/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

ESPN has greatly reduced its MMA coverage after Paramount's $7.7 billion deal to acquire UFC broadcasting rights.
The deal ends ESPN's seven-year partnership with UFC and lets most on-air talent contracts expire.
Daniel Cormier, ESPN analyst, Chael Sonnen, ESPN analyst, and Dominick Cruz, ESPN analyst, will leave ESPN's MMA programming.
Canceling the Good Guy/Bad Guy series hosted by Cormier and Sonnen signals a major shift in ESPN's MMA strategy.

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Story summary

ESPN has greatly reduced its MMA coverage after Paramount's $7.7 billion deal to acquire UFC broadcasting rights.
The deal ends ESPN's seven-year partnership with UFC and lets most on-air talent contracts expire.
Daniel Cormier, ESPN analyst, Chael Sonnen, ESPN analyst, and Dominick Cruz, ESPN analyst, will leave ESPN's MMA programming.
Canceling the Good Guy/Bad Guy series hosted by Cormier and Sonnen signals a major shift in ESPN's MMA strategy.