UFC pay-per-view price raising in 2023 for fourth time since ESPN broadcast deal

[OctoberRed]

Once again, it will soon get more expensive to be a UFC fan.

Starting with UFC 283, the standard price for UFC pay-per-view events on ESPN+ is set to be raised to $79.99, an increase from their current price of $74.99.

The Sports Business Journal on Wednesday broke the news.

The decision marks the fourth price increase for UFC pay-per-views since the promotion struck a broadcast deal with ESPN in 2019. The cost of UFC pay-per-views was previously raised in early 2020 from $59.99 to $64.99, then again to $69.99 at the beginning of 2021, then for a third time to $74.99 in 2022 beginning with UFC 270.

ESPN+, the subscription service required in order to purchase UFC pay-per-views, also recently raised its price by 43 percent in August from $6.99 a month to $9.99 a month.

UFC 283 takes place Jan. 21 and features two title bouts: Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill for the vacant light heavyweight belt, as well as a fourth showdown between flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and former titleholder Brandon Moreno.

Earlier this year, UFC president Dana White deflected any criticism regarding the previous price jump to his broadcast partners at ESPN.

“We don’t have any say in that,” White said.

“We gave the pay-per-views to ESPN, so yeah, that’s their decision. You know how I feel about that stuff. I don’t love when prices get raised, but it’s not my decision. It’s theirs.”

In a statement, ESPN’s parent company Disney told the Sports Business Journal on Wednesday that the latest price hike “reflects the value of ESPN+ and the popularity and quality of UFC events.”

[Anthony342]

So basically they're raising the price because they can. Douchebags.

[OctoberRed]

So basically they're raising the price because they can. Douchebags.

They are now more expensive than most boxing PPVs. At one point boxing had like 20 dollar edge

[lamarclark09]

O,God!! So again they increasing the price……. UFC is already so much expensive. Really don’t know what to say more

[Anthony342]

They are now more expensive than most boxing PPVs. At one point boxing had like 20 dollar edge

So too expensive and treat all but top fighters like crap. Almost as bad as WWE. Good thing there's competition these days. UFC either needs better owners or should crash and burn.

[-DSG-]

I'll be watching more bellator, pfl, and one next year.

[OctoberRed]

So too expensive and treat all but top fighters like crap. Almost as bad as WWE. Good thing there's competition these days. UFC either needs better owners or should crash and burn.

White claims it's ESPN's decision and they keep jacking it up

[Anthony342]

White claims it's ESPN's decision and they keep jacking it up

Then they need to work with a different network when the contract expires. Same thing with Tony Khan and their sh***y deal with Warner Bros., who won't put on The Briscoes, which makes no sense after the huge crowd reaction they got after that Final Battle 2022 pay per view. I hope fans turn away in droves until then.

[Willy Wanker]

White claims it's ESPN's decision and they keep jacking it up

White always deflects blame to someone else.

After that crappy Reebok deal a few years ago, no one should believe a damn thing he says.

[OctoberRed]

White always deflects blame to someone else.

After that crappy Reebok deal a few years ago, no one should believe a damn thing he says.

I think in this case that he's telling the truth. UFC gave full control to ESPN on the PPVs for guaranteed money.