MMA fans on Twitter were enraged following recent reports that ESPN will be increasing the UFC pay-per-view rate by $5, from $74.99 to $79.99 beginning with UFC 283 PPV event in January next year.
Check out the official poster for UFC 283:
Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern was the first to announce the recent revision in prices. This is the fourth time pay-per-view rates have increased since the UFC signed a lucrative broadcast deal with ESPN in 2019. The price of a UFC pay-per-view event increased to $64.99 in 2020 for UFC 264, then $69 in 2021, and eventually $74.99 in 2022 for UFC 270.
Antagonized combat sports fans hopped onto the tweet that informed the revised rates to express their indignation.
One fan stated that the revised price will not prevent him from viewing events through unauthorized streams:
Antagonized combat sports fans hopped onto the tweet that informed the revised rates to express their indignation.
One fan stated that the revised price will not prevent him from viewing events through unauthorized streams:
“Huh? good thing I use illegal streams. Ain’t nobody paying for that sh*t.”
Another fan did some math to calculate the total expenditure of enjoying the event from a bar that hosts UFC events:
“80 bucks? I can get Lyft [ride share service] to and from the bar round trip 30 bucks, and spend 30 on beer and food. Dang.”
Yet another fan stated that he would continue to watch the events for free and even offered to assist other MMA enthusiasts in viewing the fights illegally:
“Yet somehow I’m confident I’ll watch them all at the same old price of $0. Anyone needs the link DM, the UFC doesn’t need our money, the ESPN deal is plenty for them.”
Check out some of the best reactions below:
What did Dana White say about ESPN increasing the UFC pay-per-view cost in 2022?
Beginning with UFC 283, in January 2023, pay-per-view pricing will increase by $5. The price of UFC pay-per-view events increased from $69.99 to $74.98 in January of 2022, effective with UFC 270.
Since ESPN became the exclusive provider of pay-per-views in April 2019, UFC fans have endured consistent price rises. The American international basic cable sports channel has gradually increased UFC pay-per-view pricing over the previous three years after the price decreased to $59.99 in 2019.
Check out the tweet below (Credits: @MMAJOEYC)
Earlier this year, during the UFC Vegas 46 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about the hike in television/ webcast service. White simply replied:
“We don’t have any say in that. We gave the pay-per-views to ESPN, so that’s their decision. You know how I feel about that stuff. I don’t love when prices get raised, but it’s not my decision. It’s theirs.”
Catch White’s comments below: