In a historic move for the world’s largest MMA promotion, CBS is officially getting in the Octagon. Paramount+ and the CBS Television Network will partner to air UFC 326: Holloway vs. Oliveira 2 live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 7, 2026, marking the first UFC event ever to appear on CBS.
With the move, this is the first time a UFC event will air on free, over-the-air TV since the promotion left ESPN, which aired select events on ABC. Now, as part of a multi-year, multibillion-dollar media rights agreement with Paramount, the MMA promotion has a new broadcast TV home.
Paramount+ is the exclusive home for UFC live events in the U.S., and with UFC 326 airing on CBS, the UFC can attract a bigger audience, including casual viewers who don’t subscribe to streaming services. For CBS, the first UFC numbered event to air on its broadcast network can maximize the sport’s reach, creating a potential ratings bump.
During UFC 326, CBS will simulcast select fights in primetime 8:00–10:00 PM ET (simulcasting the final hour of prelims 8:00–9:00 PM ET, and the first hour of the main card 9:00–10:00 PM ET). The rest of the card streams exclusively on Paramount+.
The UFC’s debut on CBS is set to feature a highly anticipated rematch over a decade in the making. Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira first clashed back in 2015 at UFC Fight Night 74 in Saskatchewan. Both fighters were rising stars in the promotion’s featherweight division at the time. Holloway won in the first round by TKO in the first round after Oliviera suffered an injury. Both fighters have since been to the mountaintop, winning UFC championships, Fight of the Night, Performance of the Night, and other accolades over the years.
The news for the UFC on CBS premiere comes as the broadcast network announced, This Is UFC, the latest special on the MMA-promotion. Set to air on Friday, February 20, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM ET/PT on CBS (simulstream on Paramount+), This is UFC chronicles the UFC’s journey from an underground spectacle to a global powerhouse. Subscribers with Paramount+ Premium can stream the special live, and those with Paramount+ Essential can stream on-demand the next day.
The special will feature conversations with UFC president and CEO Dana White, legendary fighters, and rising stars, exploring the organization’s transformation from a raw, fringe experiment into a dominant force in sports and entertainment. Hosted by UFC reporter Megan Olivi alongside SURVIVOR 45 winner and SURVIVOR 50 castaway Dee Valladares, the special captures the sport’s energy, history, and future while celebrating the success of UFC’s debut on Paramount+.
With This Is UFC, Paramount continues to expand UFC programming across its streaming and TV platforms. The UFC on Paramount+ hub page features original content, fights from the vault, shows like The Ultimate Fighter, Dana White’s Contender Series, and much more.
Fight fans can expect more marquee fights to pop up on broadcast windows as Paramount tests the audience. Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 7, and watch UFC 326 live on CBS and Paramount+.