NETFLIX could become the next big powerhouses of combat sports.
The streaming giants – who have over 280MILLION paying subscribers – dip their toes into live sport for the first time next Friday.
Netflix controversially host Mike Tyson’s boxing comeback against YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul.
Talks with Paul spanned over a year and a deal was struck when heavyweight icon Tyson agreed to come out of retirement to fight.
But SunSport understands this will not be Netflix’s only major play in sports streaming.
The movie makers announced a stunning $5BILLION (£3.8bn) deal with the WWE to air events in the US and worldwide.
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As of January, the WWE’s flagship show Monday Night Raw will be on Netflix.
And by then, Netflix will have ALL of WWE’s programming exclusively platformed on their site in the UK, replacing TNT Sports as broadcaster.
The WWE joined forces with the UFC this year as part of a merger with the TKO group worth $21bn (£16.2bn).
It comes as the UFC’s five-year, $1.5bn (£1.1bn) TV contract with ESPN, is due to expire at the end of 2025.
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Several bidders are already in talks with the UFC, with Netflix among them.
It would mean Netflix attempting to get the UFC and WWE under one umbrella while more boxing events are also eyed.
Paul has also not ruled out working with Netflix again, having boxed on DAZN, Triller, Showtime and ESPN in the past.
He was in negotiations with Netflix for several fights, including a rematch against Tommy Fury, 25, who he lost to in 2023.
Paul, 27, has featured in Netflix’s Untold documentary series before and will split a huge $80m (£60m) purse with Tyson, 58.
Iron Mike returns for his first professional bout since 2005.
It will be officially sanctioned but over eight two-minute rounds – opposed to the usual three – fought in bigger 14oz gloves instead if 10oz.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
