"Call this an experiment of what UFC fans are willing to accept at a numbered event in the Paramount+ era. With PPV fees now gone for the vast majority of fight fans (sorry, Canada), does every numbered card need a title fight or two? In years gone by, the UFC would have non-title fights headlining some of their biggest events."
"In the modern era, however, it became a sort of accepted fact that a PPV card needed a title to legitimize it, with arguably Conor McGregor (in his fights with Nate Diaz and Cowboy Cerrone) being the main exception."
"Unlike 2025, however, no one outside an unlucky few is stuck paying upwards of $50 for UFC 326. There's an argument to be made that the UFC can and should go back to putting just plain fun fights atop certain events."
UFC 326 represents an experiment in the Paramount+ era, questioning whether numbered UFC events require divisional title fights for legitimacy. Historically, the UFC accepted non-title fights headlining major events, but modern PPV standards established that titles were necessary to justify premium pricing. With PPV fees eliminated for most fans, the UFC can reconsider this requirement. UFC 326 features a BMF title headliner between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, similar to UFC 318. Unlike previous years when fans paid $50+ for numbered cards, this event is now accessible without premium fees, allowing the promotion to prioritize compelling matchups over championship requirements.
Read at Cageside Press
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