UFC 331 Puts 2 Title Fights in Play as Van, Tsarukyan Enter as Favorites

Q: Does streaming UFC 331 on Paramount+ without pay-per-view fees signal the end of traditional combat sports broadcasting models?

No. UFC 331 streaming on Paramount+ without an extra pay-per-view fee is a major shift, but it does not by itself signal the end of traditional combat sports broadcasting models. What it does show is that the business is changing fast. UFC’s current setup puts numbered events and Fight Nights on Paramount+ as part of a monthly subscription, with plans starting around $8.99, a sharp break from the old model of paying a large one-off fee for each marquee card. That lowers friction for fans, keeps all parts of the card on one platform, and fits a broader industry push to use live sports to drive subscriptions and reduce churn. But the wider combat-sports market remains mixed. Boxing still relies heavily on premium PPV economics, as shown by major fights like Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu being sold separately on DAZN PPV, Prime Video and PPV.com for about $80. Internationally, UFC 331 itself is not uniformly subscription-only either; in some markets, including Canada, the main card is still carried on PPV. That means the old model is not disappearing so much as being redeployed where rights holders think fans will still pay extra. The bigger takeaway is that combat sports are moving from a single dominant model to a split system: subscription streaming for reach and platform growth, PPV for select markets and events, and hybrid rights deals depending on territory. UFC 331 is strong evidence that traditional PPV is losing exclusivity, not that it is finished.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 19

Joshua Van enters Saturday’s UFC 331 main event as a -135 pick to beat Alexandre Pantoja in a flyweight title rematch after taking the belt when Pantoja suffered an early injury in their first fight.
Arman Tsarukyan is a -340 favorite over Mauricio Ruffy in the five-round co-main, with a win expected to secure a lightweight title shot after four victories since 2023.
The betting card also highlights Gable Steveson as a -2100 favorite over Sean Sharaf, while analysts backed Dooho Choi by decision at +215 against Patrício Pitbull.
Those picks reflect UFC 331’s broader stakes: Van can remove doubts about his championship legitimacy, while Tsarukyan can move to the front of the queue for a shot at the 155-pound crown.