After a year filled with thrilling finishes and shocking upsets, fueled by roaring crowds and intense battles, 2025 is shaping up to usher in a new wave of talent across UFC divisions. As fighters prepare for tough tests ahead, Dana White and his team are facing a major decision that could reshape the landscape of MMA.

With the UFC’s five-year, $1.5 billion broadcasting rights deal with ESPN nearing its conclusion, the door is wide open for the promotion to potentially partner with Netflix moving forward. However, the UFC Co-Creator Campbell McLaren has come up with a new name in the list. In a recent tweet, he pointed out who exactly can get the deal done.

The top two candidates running for the race to get the UFC contract in 2025 as revealed

Dana White had previously expressed doubts about Netflix’s capacity to handle large audiences at once. However, his stance seemed to shift following the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul bout, which drew over 100 million viewers. Despite facing server issues and broadcasting delays during the event, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, assured that the company has addressed those problems and is now focused on delivering a smooth experience for its 282 million subscribers around the globe.

Netflix is evolving from a traditional entertainment platform into a major player in live streaming, now adding live sports to its growing portfolio. In a significant move, the company invested $150 million to secure the rights to broadcast two highly anticipated NFL games on Christmas Day. However, ESPN is also in the line which was made clear by Campbell McLaren in a recent tweet.

Jed I.Goodman took to his X account and tweeted, “Bloomberg Screentime asked media experts, ‘UFC’s TV rights come up next year. Who will take them?’ Top Answer: Netflix”. However, according to McLaren there’s one more competitor in the line and that’s ESPN. He tweeted, “Who are these “media experts?” Apple? A family brand. WBD? They couldn’t afford to keep the NBA. Amazon has no interest in serious MMA content; that’s why they have One. Paramount knows the sport from Combate Global and Bellator but the timing is not right. It’s ESPN vs Netflix.” 

However, as the promotion’s global influence expands, White may seek a platform that can provide even greater accessibility to a wider audience, potentially outpacing ESPN’s reach. Netflix now appears to be a strong contender for such a partnership. White has made it clear that he fully understands the value of his company and isn’t afraid to highlight it. Setting a goal as ambitious as securing an NFL-like TV deal is no small feat. After all, the NFL’s current $111 billion contract far surpasses the UFC’s $1.5 billion TV deal with ESPN. Therefore, the big question lies in who Dana White will choose once this contract expires.

What way will the UFC go down in 2025?

Although Dana White has stated his intention to continue working with ESPN despite some tensions, he has also expressed willingness to consider other offers. Recent Bloomberg reports suggest that the possibility of Netflix acquiring the UFC’s broadcasting rights is gaining traction. Netflix has also secured a partnership with FIFA, gaining streaming rights for the 2027 and 2030 Women’s World Cups in the U.S. This agreement has been hailed by FIFA as “landmark” and “top-tier.”

Moreover, WWE is set to bring its weekly episodic extravaganza Monday Night RAW from the USA Network to Netflix starting January 2025. And as the UFC’s sister promotion under the TKO banner, the streaming giant will surely try to bring in the MMA juggernaut under its wings. While White has always prioritized loyalty to the UFC, the changing media landscape—highlighted by Jeff Bezos’ recent appearance at a UFC event—could bring in a third player in the form of Amazon Prime to influence the promotion’s future direction.

White has consistently voiced his ambition to take the UFC to new heights, aiming to position it alongside major leagues like the NFL, which makes Amazon a key player in these discussions. “To be honest, many of those potential media partners will be at the Sphere this weekend,” the head honcho noted, with Bezos’ presence only intensifying the speculation.

Could Netflix or Jeff Bezos’ Amazon step up to secure the top spot, especially given that Amazon and the UFC almost reached a deal in 2018 before ESPN took over? Or will ESPN manage to keep its contract with the UFC? Share your predictions below.