The UFC has announced significant updates to its events as the 2025 schedule wraps up. Premier Promotions hosted its last event of the year last Saturday, followed by UFC Vegas 112, which featured Manel Kape versus Brandon Roybal and marked the end of UFC’s long-running partnership with ESPN.
Starting in 2026, the UFC will move its broadcast home to Paramount, sparking excitement among fans eager to see what the new partnership will bring. UFC president Dana White revealed UFC 324 as the inaugural numbered event under Paramount’s banner, though this announcement received mixed reactions.
With the transition to Paramount imminent, attention has turned to the future of the Apex events, which have been a point of contention for over five years. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Premier Promotions has largely held events in smaller Apex venues, frustrating many fans due to limited attendance and a lackluster atmosphere.
Despite the move to Paramount, the UFC plans to keep its Apex events but will expand the venue to accommodate more spectators and introduce both standard and VIP tickets. The revamped Apex will kick off with UFC Vegas 113 on February 7, headlined by bantamweight contenders Vinicius Oliveira and Mario Bautista, with around 1,000 seats expected to be available.
Earlier this year, WWE utilized the UFC Apex for its NXT Battlegrounds, allowing a larger crowd than usual for the venue, hinting at possible improvements for UFC events there. However, fan dissatisfaction remains high, particularly after the announcement that a flyweight bout between Amir Albazi and Kyoji Horiguchi will also take place at the Apex, with many expressing frustration that high-profile fights continue to be held in a small venue with limited spectators.
Fans argue that the Apex was a pandemic-era necessity and should no longer be the primary location for UFC events, especially for big fights, as it diminishes the live experience and overall event energy.
Fan Take: This update matters because it reflects the UFC’s struggle to balance safety, fan experience, and business growth in a post-pandemic world. How the Apex evolves could influence fan engagement and set new standards for live MMA events in the coming years.
