As the UFC’s lucrative five-year, $1.5 billion partnership with ESPN approaches its expiration in 2025, rumors of a new broadcasting partner have become stronger. With fans still reeling from the technological mishaps that have marred recent pay-per-views, the timing seems almost too perfect. Now, Joe Rogan has pulled back the curtain, implying that significant changes may be going on behind the scenes—changes that may transform not only where spectators watch fights but also how the UFC portrays itself to the world.

On Episode #2309 of The Joe Rogan Experience on April 22, the UFC commentator confirmed the claims firsthand. “You know, they’re talking about doing the UFC on Netflix,” Rogan said. “Apparently, I think the UFC’s negotiation period with ESPN ended. So, what that means is they could talk to other people.” It’s a significant change, especially given the recent run of technical mishaps that have plagued ESPN’s handling of pay-per-views — a theme that UFC fans are growing tired of. One of those failures, according to comic Joey Diaz, may have been the tipping point.

“That f—— thing that night when everything fell apart—that wasn’t a bad night, (UFC 313) When the ball dropped—not this card but the one before that..when all the disaster started. Nobody was getting the pay-per-view,” Diaz stated on the same podcast.

Rogan further asked, “Oh, right—one of the PPVs, the app failed, right?” To this, Diaz responded, “It was too overwhelming for the UFC, I think. Cuz s— happens. But this must have been bad,” before adding, “It partially went down. I couldn’t order the card. It was a bunch of s—- going on. Then I went on Twitter and I saw…a bunch of other guys, fighters saying “What the [ __ ] is wrong? And I’m like, ‘Okay, it’s not just me.’ And then I heard the riffraff that night, and then the next day they were talking about it. And then on Monday, Dana was hot. I know he did something, he said something.” To this, Rogan pointed out another pressing issue, that according to several reports had ESPN clearly ticked off.

“I think in general the pay-per-view numbers are down as well. Because the casuals aren’t buying it as much,” the host said. “The UFC has a pay-per-view every week…every month and then they have a fight every week. So, it’s like getting people to shell out 70 bucks for this card, and also like some of the great fights are on the undercard…and before the pay-per-view starts, you already have…three and a half hours of great fights you could watch for free. Some of them, they’re trying to lure you into buying the pay-per-view…Some of the best fights are really on the undercard…like guys…you don’t know their names yet.”

Notably, even before the broadcast troubles began, UFC 313 was chaos. Two fights were removed from the PPV card mere hours before the event due to fighter illness, postponing the start time by nearly an hour. But things got worse once the main program started: frequent app crashes stopped viewers from purchasing or viewing the pay-per-view. Coming so soon after another ESPN+ debacle at UFC 304—where black screens and audio issues dominated mid-fight—frustration boiled up. For Joe Rogan and Diaz, the latest issue was more than just a hiccup; it was the moment the UFC realized it might be time to move on.

As per several reports, even ESPN was far from happy with the promotion’s PPV numbers being “way down” and “PPV points” becoming useless “because of how low PPV buys are”. In light of this, Netflix, a $469 billion streaming behemoth that recently struck a decade-long deal with WWE, has been on White’s radar for a long time. In November last year, Dana White had indicated how “Netflix was crazy not to get into live sports sooner than they did”. Given that both WWE and the UFC are now under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella, the move is reasonable. But with the UFC reportedly seeking $1 billion per year for their next rights deal, it’s still far from a done deal.

However, it seems like even moving on won’t be too easy.

Netflix co-CEO casts major shadow over Dana White’s ambitions

Dana White’s decision to renegotiate its television rights deal comes as several possible suitors are eyeing the multibillion-dollar sports industry. Netflix’s potential attraction, particularly in light of its big $5 billion purchase of WWE’s broadcasting rights, has elevated it to the forefront of these talks. Despite this, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos appears to put doubt on White’s plans for a high-profile, long-term alliance. While the UFC may be hoping for a contract similar to WWE’s, Sarandos is cautious about committing to such a plan.

During a recent Netflix investor call, Sarandos was asked about the company’s interest in acquiring UFC broadcast rights. His comment merely complicated the situation. Rather than pursuing a complete sports contract, Netflix looks to be sticking with its approach of “big, breakthrough events.” Sarandos and his staff appear to prefer one-time events such as the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing fight and the much-anticipated Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano rematch. His comments made it obvious that, while Netflix is interested in live events, the firm is hesitant to commit to a year-round sports package, particularly given the possibility of subscriber drop-offs between seasons.

Despite this, there is still hope for UFC fans. Sarandos’ plan of capitalizing on high-profile events may still allow room for the UFC’s major pay-per-views, which are held regularly throughout the year. Netflix’s experience with live sports, while limited, has proven beneficial with the appropriate type of event. The UFC, with over 40 events per year, provides the type of constant excitement that may make a partnership enticing. However, whether Netflix will adjust its focus and get into a large sports agreement remains to be seen. As the Dana White-led promotion considers its alternatives, Sarandos’ attitude is likely to have a significant influence in deciding the future of UFC broadcasting. What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comments.