UFC events are separated into nine different formats:

• "Numbered" events, currently airing onParamount+ and formerly aired onpay-per-view, with some exceptions.
• "Fight Night" events, currently airing onParamount+ and formerly aired onSpike,Fox Sports 1,Fox Sports 2,UFC Fight Pass orESPN+.
• "The Ultimate Fighter Finale" events, formerly aired on Spike,FX, Fox Sports 1, UFC Fight Pass or ESPN+.
• "UFC Live" events, formerly aired onVersus
• "UFC on Fox" events, formerly aired onFox
• "UFC on FX" events, formerly aired onFX
• "UFC on Fuel TV" events, formerly aired onFuel TV
• "UFC on ESPN" events, formerly aired onESPN orESPN2
• "UFC on ABC" events, formerly aired onABC

Most of the "numbered" events have taken place on pay-per-view, though there have been a few exceptions for reasons such astape-delay. Events such asUFC 72, which took place inBelfast,Northern Ireland, were sold on pay-per-view, but due to tape-delay, purchase rates were not as high as events that aired at a traditional starting time.^[1] As such, events taking part in significantly different time zones, includingUFC 70,UFC 75,UFC 89,UFC 95,UFC 105,UFC 120,UFC 122, andUFC 138, were given a same-night airing in U.S.prime time on Spike.^[2]

Historically, the UFC has also aired preliminary fights prior to the main fight cards, either on television via Spike, FX, and Fuel TV, or online viaFacebook andYouTube. Beginning in August 2013, starting withUFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen, the UFC began airing non-PPV events on eitherFox Sports 1 orFox Sports 2.^[3] In January 2014, as part of the organization's global expansion, the UFC began airing various international events exclusively on their subscription-based digital network, UFC Fight Pass.^[4]

In July 2009, the UFC held its unofficial 100th "numbered event"; however, officially, despite being called UFC 100, it was actually the 101st numbered event (not to mention the 133rd event overall). The UFC signed a deal withFox Sports Net, after Fox agreed to broadcast one fight in June 2002, during its "All-Star Summer" that month.^[5] UFC 37 and 38 had already been scheduled and promoted, but as UFC 38 was the promotion's debut in the United Kingdom, they created UFC 37.5; an event that featured the first ever mixed martial arts fight available on cable television.^[5]

As ofUFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira, which took place on February 7, 2026, there have been 761 UFC events held in 169 cities in 32 countries.

In May 2017, the UFC announced White would holdDana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series weekly onUFC Fight Pass (becoming, from January 2019 on, exclusive content on ESPN+ in the United States). As with the earlier web seriesLooking for a Fight, the goal of the series is for White to scout talent for the UFC.^[6][7] It was stated ahead of the license being approved that “this is not the UFC, this is not the UFC brand,” but instead a promotion that will allow up and coming fighters the chance to showcase their talents in hopes that one day they may compete in the UFC.^[8]