UFC and Paramount+ have been successful in the third month of their broadcasting partnership, but fans still compare them to the UFC’s previous era on ESPN. Earlier this year, Dana White and Co. ended their seven-year-long broadcasting deal with ESPN to sign Paramount’s $7.7 billion, seven-year streaming deal, which promised better service at a lower cost. Over time, however, a recent American veteran journalist pointed out that it seems downgraded compared to ESPN.

The UFC kicked off its partnership with Paramount at UFC 324 in January, headlined by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett. Unfortunately, advertisements during the stream disappointed fans. In particular, the PIP (picture-in-picture) feature caused the biggest problem. Paramount+ finally fixed this issue at UFC Vegas 114, but several other issues still affect the fan experience. Recently, Ariel Helwani reminded Paramount+ of its bitter reality.

Ariel Helwani draws a comparison between UFC on Paramount+ and ESPN

“Now that Paramount+ fixed the PIP issue,” wrote Ariel Helwani on X, “I’d like to now focus our attention on adding the card, updated stats, who has fought/who hasn’t below the video player like they had on ESPN+. I enjoyed that. Let’s do this, team.”

While the PIP issue has been resolved, competing streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube (paid version) already offer the feature. The latter apps allow viewers to continue watching content in a small frame while browsing the app. Still, the UFC broadcaster deserves credit for finally addressing the issue.

Still, it is surprising that the platform lacks other essential features. Paramount+ still does not provide options like an updated fight card or live statistics, which fans often rely on when they join a broadcast midway through a fight night.

So, this situation raises an important question: if ESPN provided a better broadcast experience, why did the UFC decide to leave the network? The exact reason remains unclear. However, many observers believe the UFC demanded a much larger financial deal, similar to the media agreements seen in leagues like the NFL.

At the same time, the promotion likely wanted greater control over its business operations and its fight library, which is now moving to Paramount+. Meanwhile, the decline of the traditional PPV model may have also influenced the decision, as the format no longer generates the same level of profit as it once did.

Even so, many fans still feel unsatisfied with Paramount+, despite the lower price. The service currently costs about $8 per month with advertisements and around $14 for the ad-free version, making it cheaper than the previous $80 PPV events on ESPN. That said, every deal comes with pros and cons. Some fans have already labeled Paramount+ a “joke” because of frequent ads and occasional streaming glitches.

Now it remains to be seen whether Paramount+ will respond to Ariel Helwani’s concerns. After all, Helwani has spent nearly 25 years establishing himself as one of the most respected voices in MMA journalism. However, he is not the only one raising questions about the UFC-Paramount deal. Former champion Ronda Rousey has also voiced her dissatisfaction.

Ronda Rousey blames Paramount+ deal for not returning to the UFC

Earlier this year, UFC legend Ronda Rousey shocked fans when she announced plans to return to MMA and settle unfinished business against Gina Carano. However, she surprised everyone even more when she revealed that she would not make her comeback in the UFC. Instead, she chose to compete under Jake Paul’s promotion in a Netflix-broadcast event. Naturally, the move quickly raised questions about the current relationship between the UFC and Rousey, especially since Dana White has always praised Rousey’s trailblazing journey in the sport.

For years, ‘Rowdy’ openly expressed interest in returning to the UFC. However, the situation changed after the promotion signed its broadcasting deal with Paramount+ and decided to move away from the traditional PPV model. As a result, that shift reduced her chances of securing a massive payday, especially for a long-awaited fight against Carano that fans have discussed for nearly a decade.

“They’re now a publicly traded company, and how do I put it, they didn’t want to set a precedent of giving me the guaranteed money that I deserve because once I raise that tide, it lifts all the boats,” Ronda Rousey said via The Jim Rome Show. “They just made a $7.7 billion deal at Paramount so it’s in their best interest actually not to put on the best fights possible but to spend as little money as possible so they can keep it.”

So, with Paramount+ now shaping the UFC’s broadcast model, the promotion may find it harder to bring Ronda Rousey back. At the same time, the situation could also affect Conor McGregor’s potential return, as both the fighter and the promotion may struggle to fully capitalize on the hype without the traditional PPV structure. So, drop your take below.