UFC’s Debut on Paramount+ Marks a New Era

UFC CEO Dana White has expressed immense satisfaction with the organization’s first weekend on its new streaming platform, Paramount+. The event was highlighted by an intense and thrilling main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, which took place at T-Mobile Arena.

“Absolute dogfight,” White described the fight. “A war. Much respect to those guys. I didn’t know Paddy Pimblett had a chin like that.”

Pimblett’s resilience was evident from the start. Gaethje managed to knock him down early with powerful right hands, maintaining pressure throughout the 25-minute bout. This effort ultimately led to a unanimous decision victory, securing Gaethje the interim lightweight title. However, Pimblett showed remarkable determination, continuing to push forward and deliver his own share of punishment, especially in the second half of the fight.

White shared insights into Pimblett’s mindset. “He came up to me at weigh-ins and told me he was going to knock (Gaethje) out,” he said. “The more shots he took, I figured he would have to try to get him down and submit him, but he never abandoned that game plan.”

This high-octane matchup set the tone for a successful debut of the UFC’s post-pay-per-view model, marking the organization’s entry into the streaming era. Fans were thrilled with the action, and White noted that his partners at CBS were equally excited about the performance, which kicked off a $7.7 billion deal.

“We’ll have numbers on Tuesday or Wednesday, but it succeeded expectations beyond belief for Paramount,” White said. “We know it killed it. We just don’t know the exact number yet.”

White also emphasized the potential for a strong relationship with Paramount over the next seven years, expressing confidence in the future of their collaboration.

Expanding the Reach: Zuffa Boxing Launches

In addition to the UFC’s success on Paramount+, White’s new venture, Zuffa Boxing, made its debut on Friday. The promotion streams on Paramount+ and launched at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. While the card was somewhat underwhelming, it is expected to lay the groundwork for what White envisions as a major disrupter in the boxing world.

Despite some production hiccups, such as issues with commercial timing, a botched introduction from Bruce Buffer, and a referee suffering a torn ACL in the cage, the event marked a significant step forward for Zuffa.

There were also challenges related to the new payment structure under the deal, along with some betting controversies and politically incorrect comments from fighters. Nevertheless, the overall experience was seen as a success, particularly with the unveiling of upgrades at the Apex, where capacity is expected to soon reach 1,000.

Looking Ahead: A New Chapter

Despite the positive outcomes, White remained focused on future endeavors rather than celebrating the immediate success. “It will mean something to me at the end of the year,” he said. “I don’t think like that. I’m not the type to think, ‘Oh, what a special day for me.’ The way I look at it is we are just going into a new deal and have a lot of work to do, especially on the boxing side. After Christmas, I usually go away for like 10 days and that’s when I start to think about how the year was and what we’re going to do in 2027.”

White’s attention is now turning to one of his most ambitious projects: a planned June 14 event on the White House lawn. This historic event could feature Gaethje in a title unification bout against lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, given his impressive performance at UFC 324.

“There’s no way they can keep me off the card now,” Gaethje said. “It’s very possible I earned my way into the lineup for that historic event.”

Pimblett, despite his first UFC loss, should still see plenty of opportunities emerging. His performance showcased heart, toughness, and the charisma fans already admire. Gaethje acknowledged the lessons Pimblett must learn, noting that false confidence can be detrimental.

“You have to learn these lessons,” Gaethje said. “His mindset going into that fight was not good. False confidence will kill you every time and that’s what he had. You cannot approach this sport like that and he’ll learn. He’s really good. He’s so tough. He’ll get there soon, no doubt.”