By Kelsey Mowatt

As most expected would be the case, the UFC has signed a new broadcasting deal for considerably more money than the promotion’s last agreement. But, following news of the massive deal, Matt Brown is questioning how much fighters will benefit from the financial windfall.

Recently, it was announced that the UFC has signed a seven-year broadcasting deal with Paramount for $7.7 billion. The agreement far exceeds the deal the UFC signed with ESPN back in 2019, which ended up being for $1.9 billion.

Brown weighed in on the new deal via “The Fighter vs. The Writer” podcast. While doing so, the retired, former contender questioned whether fighters will benefit financially from the agreement (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“It sounds like another brilliant, gigantic win for the UFC,” Brown said. “The same question is going to come up every time something happens with the UFC when they get these brilliant, gigantic wins as a business — so far none of it has done anything good for the fighters. We have to ask is this going to be something good for the fighters? That’s going to be my question every time. Is this something that’s going to benefit the fighters in any ways?

“Of course, we’re early on in the deal. We just heard about it today. If history tells us anything, this is not going to change anything for fighters. Maybe it will. We’re going to have to see how that plays out.”

Over the years, there have been calls for fighters to explore unionizing or to form some sort of association, which could collectively bargain with the UFC. Often, these calls have noted that similar organizations in other sports have been able to secure fighters a significantly higher share of revenue than what’s been reported that fighters competing for the UFC earn. But Brown is skeptical that fighters will mobilize in this respect.

“Looking at history, there’s no indication the fighters are going to come together to fight,” Brown said. “Looking at history, the UFC has no reason to anticipate them coming together to fight. You want to argue against the UFC? You want to debate the UFC? You want to fight the UFC? All right, we’ll sign the next 100 guys to replace you. We’ll make them a star. We’ll put them on the Countdown show. This is no problem...”

“This is very, very difficult situation for fighters. It doesn’t make sense for them to come together. I said this a million times before. Our job is to beat the other guy. Our job is to take his money. That’s literally our profession. So to ask us to come together and help out other guys that we literally fighting against, it doesn’t make any real sense.”

The UFC’s new, U.S. broadcasting deal with Paramount starts in 2026. The promotion has also announced it is moving away from its pay-per-view model on account of the new agreement.