UFC’s New Pact With Paramount Skydance Lifts TKO’s Q1 Earnings

May 6, 2026 1:32pm PT UFC’s New Pact With Paramount Skydance Lifts TKO’s Q1 Earnings

By Cynthia Littleton

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Cynthia Littleton

Business Editor

@Variety_Cynthia

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The UFC‘s new licensing deal with Paramount Skydance helped boost TKO‘s first quarter earnings as the pact with Paramount+ kicked in at the start of the year.

TKO saw revenue for the quarter grow 26% year over year to $1.6 billion, while adjust earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization grew 32% to $549.8 billion. That was fueled by a $51.2 million increase for UFC as the new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount began for the MMA league.

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