Fight fans will have to fork over more money to keep watching UFC pay-per-view events on ESPN in 2022.
According to Newsday, UFC pay-per-view events will increase $5 USD, from $69.99 to $74.99. The special ESPN+PPV bundle, which includes one UFC pay-per-view, goes up $10 USD from $89.98 to $99.98.
The increases begin with the next UFC pay-per-view, UFC 270 which is scheduled for Jan. 22.
Unsurprisingly, some fans were not impressed with having to dig deeper into their pockets.
UFC 97 was a random nondescript PPV in 2009. It sold for $44.95 and post-fight bonuses were $70k each.
13 years later, UFC 270 is about to sell for $74.99 and those bonuses will be $50k each.
But, you know, at least UFC just had it's most profitable year ever, so that's sweet.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) January 6, 2022
ESPN raises UFC PPV from $69.99 to $74.99
Me going to watch an illegal stream of UFC for the thousandth time: pic.twitter.com/YXlljoZRbO
— Joe (@Joey_fights) January 6, 2022
With the new price hike of UFC PPVs to $74.99, how many do you see yourself purchasing in 2022?
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) January 6, 2022
UFC: PPV is now $74.99
Fans: pic.twitter.com/7UJ4XPritn— Bowsers Forward Aerial (@AskrensSandals) January 6, 2022
UFC PPV price increases since 2004…
February 2005: $29.95
April 2005: $34.95
2006: $39.95
February 2008: $44.95
2009: $54.99*
2015: $59.99
2018: $64.99
2021: $69.99
2022: $74.99*UFC 168 in December 2013 was an exception of the time at $59.99 https://t.co/Krt9CnlpuK
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) January 6, 2022
Hey, @ufc – $74.99 for a pay per view is steeeeeeep…
— Nick Cattles (@NickCRadio) January 6, 2022
The increase comes on the heels of a record year of revenue and pay-per-view sales for the company in 2021, estimated at 8.6 million buys.
Fuck this if we keep paying more, where the suckers.let
It be the way it was or will start straming.And then we
Don’t pay at all.
Nobody should watch it.dana is being greedy let the ppv
Fail.this is a pandemic