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Morning Edition
January 27, 2026
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Paramount says nearly 5 million viewers tuned in for UFC’s first event on Paramount+, but questions remain about what those streaming numbers really mean—and what they don’t.
— Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]] and Eric Fisher [[link removed]]
Paramount Says Nearly 5 Million Watched Its UFC Debut Event [[link removed]]
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
UFC 324 drew an average of 4.96 million viewers across the United States and Latin America in the fight promotion’s debut on the Paramount+ streaming service, Paramount announced Monday.
Paramount said the numbers were tabulated by a combination of Adobe Analytics and channel partner data (meaning people watching Paramount+ through third-party distributors like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV). It is difficult to provide an apples-to-apples assessment with these numbers compared to major sporting events that are rated by Nielsen.
The company did not immediately provide a breakdown on how many of those viewers came from the U.S. and how many were international. It also did not disclose how many new subscribers the event drew to Paramount+, which costs $8.99 per month [[link removed]] in the U.S.
Paramount said the event reached 7.18 million global households and peaked with 5.93 million concurrent viewers; these numbers do not include “co-viewing,” which is multiple people watching in the same household.
The event was headlined by a five-round brawl between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, which Gaethje won by unanimous decision [[link removed]].
UFC and Paramount agreed last year to a seven-year deal worth $7.7 billion.
Alexander Volkanovski faces Diego Lopes in UFC 325 this Saturday live from Sydney, Australia.
SPONSORED BY SHEPPARD PRATT
Join Us Next Week
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end and Walter Payton Man of the Year Arik Armstead are joining the conversation [[link removed]] on Feb. 7 alongside Leslie Osborne, owner of Bay FC and League One Volleyball San Francisco, and former USWNT athlete; Dr. Harsh K. Trivedi, president and CEO of Sheppard Pratt; Dr. Amber Cargill, director of player wellness at the NFLPA; and other influential voices.
Just one day before the Big Game—Future of Sports: The Mental Edge, presented by Sheppard Pratt [[link removed]], will convene leaders from across sports, media, and mental health for brunch and thought leadership programming, designed to explore how organizations can prioritize mental well-being in sports.
Featuring thought-provoking panels and intimate dialogue, the program will unpack the evolving dynamics of mental health in professional sports, the growing role of corporate and philanthropic leadership, and how high-profile moments are enhancing mental health conversations on and off the field.
Don’t wait— request to attend now [[link removed]].
Boxing Reform Bill Backed by Zuffa Advances in Bipartisan House Vote [[link removed]]
El Paso Times
As political division grows further in Washington, there is at least one issue with clear bipartisan support: reforming professional boxing in the U.S.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced a bill last week named for boxing legend Muhammad Ali and designed to elevate professional standards around the sport. The bill, passing by an overwhelming 30–4 margin, would create unified boxing organizations (UBOs), parallel to existing sanctioning bodies, and it would also implement enhanced minimums for fighter pay and health standards.
The vote on the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act follows the introduction of the bill last summer [[link removed]] and a hearing on it held in early December [[link removed]].
“This is going to protect fighters and people thinking about entering the sport. We’re very encouraged,” Rep. Brian Jack (R., Ga.), a key backer of the legislation, tells Front Office Sports. “The vote was so bipartisan that I am really encouraged about [the bill’s] prospects going forward and what this could do to help bring boxing back to becoming one of the premier sports in America again.”
The 30 “aye” votes came from 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats.
The bill is now positioned for a full floor vote in the House. It will bear watching, however, whether this legislation—and plenty of other bills—will get delayed due to another potential federal government shutdown [[link removed]] in the wake of last weekend’s killing of a Minnesota man by federal immigration agents. Last fall, progress on the Ali Act was delayed by several matters unrelated to the bill, including a record-setting, 43-day government shutdown and an adjournment of the House to avoid a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein matter.
Zuffa Boxing, the new entity [[link removed]] involving WWE and UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings and its partners, is a key backer of the legislation. If successful, Zuffa Boxing would operate in some respects similarly to UFC—where complaints persist about the power of parent company TKO Group Holdings, and UFC last year reached a $375 million settlement [[link removed]] over long-running allegations of suppressing fighter pay.
Bill Changes
Amendments in the legislation, however, will increase boxer pay to a minimum of $200 per round, up from a previously discussed figure of $150 per round, and minimum insurance coverage for fighter injuries sustained in a bout is being doubled to $50,000.
Additionally, boxer contracts can be no longer than six years, providing a level of flexibility for athletes. A newly added free-agent provision would also allow fighters to contact rival UBOs or promoters in the final 30 days of existing contracts. Another approved amendment is designed to discourage the benching of fighters and would provide at least $2,000 in compensation in the absence of a bout within any six-month period.
Editors’ Picks Tiger’s Sun Day Red Wants to Sign More Pro Golfers [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]]Woods and Karl Vilips are the only pro golfers wearing the brand. Hearing to Decide Ex-Pro’s College Future Delayed by Snow [[link removed]]by Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]Charles Bediako had 13 points in Saturday’s game against Tennessee. Women’s Sports Stars Denounce ICE After Minnesota Shootings [[link removed]]by Annie Costabile [[link removed]]Athletes are expressing support for Minneapolis after the killing of Alex Pretti. Question of the Day
Do you watch UFC and other combat sports on TV?
YES [[link removed]] NO [[link removed]]
Monday’s result: 21% of respondents said the winter storm affected sporting events they planned to watch or attend.
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