Ratings and Subscribership Growth to ESPN+At the crux of the UFC and ESPN deal is the existence and focus on the streaming service ESPN+. GettyThe first-ever UFC on ESPN+ card in January that featured Henry Cejudo vs. TJ Dillashaw helped to generate 525,000 new subscribers to ESPN+. The prelims were broadcast on ESPN 2, but the main card was streamed exclusively on ESPN+. These are guys who fought on the UFC 236 main card but aren't yet the fighters with the biggest names. The steady diet of UFC shows (ranging from ESPN+ to UFC on ESPN and PPVs) has already established ESPN's seriousness and commitment to MMA.

Source: Forbes April 15, 2019 00:56 UTC