Get ready for a shake-up in the world of UFC! A bold new era is upon us, and it's all thanks to the UFC's partnership with Paramount.
Damon Martin, a combat sports journalist with over two decades of experience, brings us the scoop. The UFC is about to embark on a new chapter, and it starts with a simple yet significant change: the start time for major events.
With the UFC's official launch on Paramount on January 24th, we're looking at a new schedule. UFC 324, taking place at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will kick things off at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT - an hour earlier than the usual 10 p.m. ET start for pay-per-view cards. But here's where it gets controversial...
This isn't the first time the UFC has toyed with an earlier start time. In the past, they experimented with this idea, but it didn't stick. So, why the change now? Well, with the UFC's move to Paramount+, all events will be available under the standard subscription price, marking a shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model.
And this is the part most people miss: while all UFC events will be on Paramount+, some cards might also find their way to CBS. However, don't expect this for the launch of UFC 324 in January.
The UFC is wrapping up its partnership with ESPN on December 13th, with the final event taking place at the UFC APEX. The next big event, UFC 324, is scheduled for January 24th, followed closely by UFC 325 in Australia just a week later. So, the full UFC schedule for 2025, including the standard Fight Night events, is still a mystery.
UFC 324 promises an exciting interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett, with Kayla Harrison defending her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes in the co-main event. And at UFC 325, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will be back in action, facing Diego Lopes in a highly anticipated rematch.
So, what do you think about this permanent change in start times? Is it a welcome move, or do you prefer the traditional late-night UFC action? Let's discuss in the comments and share your thoughts on this new era of UFC!
