UFC Fight Pass vs ESPN+ Which Is Better

UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ are two different streaming services, and the one you need depends on whether you want the full live UFC pay-per-view experience or access to the deep fight library and regional events. ESPN+ is the required home for all UFC pay-per-views and most live UFC Fight Night cards, while UFC Fight Pass is the archive service for past fights, original shows, and smaller international events. This article breaks down what each service actually includes, how they work together, and which one makes sense for your budget and viewing habits.

Background: Why There Are Two Services

Until 2019, UFC Fight Pass was the single streaming home for UFC content, including live preliminary fights and the entire fight library. That changed when the UFC signed a broadcast deal with ESPN in the United States. Under that deal, ESPN+ became the exclusive streaming platform for UFC pay-per-views and most live UFC events in the U.S. UFC Fight Pass did not disappear; it was repositioned as a supplementary service focused on the archive, original programming, and live events from smaller promotions that the UFC owns or partners with, such as Cage Warriors, Invicta FC, and the Contender Series.

The split confuses many fans because both services carry UFC-branded content, but they serve different roles. ESPN+ is the primary live-event platform for U.S. viewers; UFC Fight Pass is the historical library and the home for international events that do not air on ESPN. If you want to watch a numbered UFC pay-per-view like UFC 300, you need ESPN+. If you want to re-watch every fight from UFC 100 or watch a regional show from Brazil, you need Fight Pass.

What UFC Fight Pass Includes

UFC Fight Pass is best described as the “Netflix of MMA.” Its core value is the archive: over 20,000 fights from the UFC, Pride, WEC, Strikeforce, and dozens of smaller promotions. You can watch every UFC fight from the very first event in 1993 up to roughly 2018, plus select newer fights that are added after a delay. The service also includes:

• Original series like UFC Embedded, Dana White’s Contender Series (replays), and UFC Ultimate Insider.
• Live events from promotions like Cage Warriors, Invicta FC, KSW, and the PFL (in some regions).
• Full fight replays of all UFC pay-per-views and Fight Nights, but only after a 30-day delay for events that aired on ESPN+.
• Documentaries, fighter interviews, and classic Pride FC events.

Fight Pass does not include live UFC pay-per-views in the U.S., nor does it include the main cards of UFC Fight Nights that air on ESPN or ESPN+. It does include early prelims for some UFC events, but that is inconsistent and depends on the event.

What ESPN+ Includes

ESPN+ is a general sports streaming service that includes UFC content as one of its many offerings. For UFC fans, ESPN+ provides:

• All UFC pay-per-views, but only via a separate purchase (typically $79.99 per event in the U.S.). You must have an active ESPN+ subscription to buy the PPV.
• Live UFC Fight Night main cards and prelims that are not on the main ESPN network.
• Replays of recent UFC events, usually available a few hours after the live broadcast.
• Non-UFC sports: NHL, college sports, soccer, boxing, and original ESPN documentaries.

ESPN+ does not include the full UFC fight library. It has a rotating selection of classic fights and some full-event replays from the last few years, but nothing close to the depth of Fight Pass. If you want to watch a fight from 2010, ESPN+ likely will not have it.

How They Work Together

The two services are complementary, not competitors, for a U.S. fan who wants everything. The standard setup is:

1. Subscribe to ESPN+ (currently $10.99/month or $109.99/year).
2. Buy each UFC PPV for $79.99 through ESPN+.
3. Subscribe to UFC Fight Pass (currently $9.99/month or $95.99/year) for the archive and international events.

That combination costs roughly $20/month plus PPV purchases. Many fans skip Fight Pass and only use ESPN+, accepting that they cannot watch old fights. Others skip ESPN+ and only use Fight Pass, but then they cannot watch any live UFC event in the U.S. except the occasional early prelim. There is no bundle that includes both services at a discount; they are separate subscriptions with separate apps and logins.

Which One Should You Choose?

Your choice depends entirely on what you watch. Use this simple decision guide:

• If you watch every UFC PPV live: You need ESPN+. There is no other legal way to watch them in the U.S.
• If you mainly watch Fight Nights and don’t care about old fights: ESPN+ is enough. You get most live events and recent replays.
• If you are a historian or want to study a specific fighter’s early career: UFC Fight Pass is essential. No other service has the full archive.
• If you follow regional promotions like Cage Warriors or Invicta: Fight Pass is the only place to watch them live.
• If you are on a tight budget and only care about the main PPV fights: ESPN+ is the minimum you need, but you will also pay the PPV fee each time.

A common misconception is that Fight Pass includes the PPVs for free. It does not. Another is that ESPN+ includes the full archive. It does not. If you want both live PPVs and the archive, you must pay for both.

Cost Comparison and Value

Here is a realistic yearly cost comparison for a fan who watches every UFC PPV (roughly 12 per year) and some Fight Nights:

• ESPN+ only: $109.99 (annual) + 12 × $79.99 (PPVs) = $1,069.87/year.
• Fight Pass only: $95.99/year, but you miss all live PPVs and most Fight Nights. Not viable for a live-event fan.
• Both: $109.99 + $95.99 + $959.88 = $1,165.86/year.

The PPV price dominates the cost. If you only watch a few PPVs per year, the math changes. If you do not care about the archive, Fight Pass is a waste of money. If you do care, the $96 annual fee is cheap compared to the PPV costs.

Common Problems and Workarounds

Two frequent complaints come up with these services:

1. “I bought the PPV on ESPN+ but can’t find it.” The PPV appears under the “UFC” tab on the ESPN+ app, not in the regular sports listings. Search for the event name. Also, the PPV is only available on the ESPN+ app, not on the main ESPN app (unless you have a cable login).

2. “Fight Pass won’t let me watch a recent UFC event.” That is by design. Recent UFC events are exclusive to ESPN+ for 30 days. After that, they appear on Fight Pass. If you need it immediately, you must use ESPN+.

Another issue is regional availability. ESPN+ is only available in the U.S. If you are outside the U.S., your UFC live-event streaming is handled by other broadcasters (e.g., TNT Sports in the UK, DAZN in some countries), and Fight Pass may have a different content set. Check the UFC website for your region before subscribing.

Alternatives to Both

If you do not want to pay for both, consider these alternatives:

• Traditional cable or satellite: Some cable packages include ESPN, which carries some UFC Fight Nights, but PPVs still require ESPN+.
• Single PPV purchases: You can buy a PPV on ESPN+ without a subscription? No, you cannot. ESPN+ is mandatory.
• Free highlights: The UFC’s official YouTube channel posts full fight highlights and sometimes full early prelims for free. This is not a substitute for live events but can satisfy casual interest.
• Other streaming services: DAZN and other regional services carry UFC in some countries, but not in the U.S.

For the casual fan who just wants to watch the main event highlights the next morning, YouTube is free and sufficient. For the hardcore fan, there is no way around ESPN+ for live PPVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+ to watch UFC?
No. You only need ESPN+ to watch live UFC PPVs and most Fight Nights in the U.S. Fight Pass is optional and adds the archive and international events.

Can I watch UFC PPVs on Fight Pass?
No, not live in the U.S. Fight Pass has replays of PPVs after a 30-day delay, but the live broadcast and immediate replay are exclusive to ESPN+.

Is UFC Fight Pass worth it in 2024?
It is worth it if you watch classic fights, follow regional promotions, or want to see early-career footage of current stars. If you only watch current events live, it is not worth the subscription.

Does ESPN+ include all UFC Fight Nights?
Most, but not all. Some Fight Nights air on the main ESPN network or ABC, which require a cable login even if you have ESPN+. The ESPN+ app carries the ones designated as “ESPN+ exclusive.”

Can I cancel Fight Pass and keep ESPN+?
Yes, they are separate subscriptions. You can cancel either at any time without affecting the other.

Are there any free trials?
ESPN+ occasionally offers free trials for new subscribers, and Fight Pass sometimes runs promotions. Neither is guaranteed. Check their respective websites for current offers.

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