Conor McGregor returns to UFC, driving significant Paramount+ viewership
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 17, 2026, 12:00 PM
Last updated Jul 17, 2026
Conor McGregor made his return to UFC this past weekend, facing Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor lost by TKO in just 69 seconds. Despite the short fight, Paramount+ averaged 6.1 million viewers during the event, peaking at 8.3 million—a higher number than viewers for the recent UFC Freedom 250 card. Since Paramount+ started airing UFC events earlier this year, it has reported a total audience of 20 million households. The streaming service is in its first year of a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with UFC, which has shown strong initial viewership results.
- •McGregor lost to Max Holloway by TKO in 69 seconds.
- •Paramount+ averaged 6.1 million viewers for UFC 329.
- •The audience peaked at 8.3 million during the event.
- •Paramount+ has reached a total of 20 million households since January.
- •The streaming service is part of a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with UFC.
- 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Conor McGregor return earns Paramount+ a strong UFC audience
"Conor McGregor made his long-awaited return to UFC last weekend, and while his time in the octagon was short-lived, falling to Mak Holloway by TKO in just 69 seconds, the audience he drove to Paramount+ was nothing short of healthy. According to Adam Stern in Sports Business Journal, Paramount+ averaged 6.1 million viewers for Saturday’s…
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