How to Watch the PFL in 2026 in the US
The Professional Fighters League lives on ESPN in 2026 — but "on ESPN" now means two different things depending on the segment. Here's how to make sure you can see the whole card.
The short answer
PFL main cards air on ESPN2 (the linear cable channel), while prelims and additional streams live in the ESPN app. So the platform you need depends on which part of the card you want — and, ideally, you want both.
Which ESPN plan you need
| ESPN Select | $12.99/month or $129.99/year — the streaming tier (formerly ESPN+); covers PFL prelims/streams in the ESPN app |
| ESPN Unlimited | $29.99/month — includes ESPN's linear networks (ESPN2), so it covers the main card too |
If you have a cable or live-TV package that already carries ESPN2, that handles the main card, and ESPN Select adds the app-only prelims. If you're a pure cord-cutter, ESPN Unlimited is the one that gets you everything in one place.
What changed for 2026
The PFL dropped its long-running season/tournament format for 2026 in favor of traditional MMA matchmaking — a slate of standalone events (including global cards plus MENA and Africa regional series) rather than a points-based regular season and playoffs. The domestic ESPN deal runs through the end of 2026.
The bottom line
For most fans the simplest path is ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month), which covers both the ESPN2 main card and the ESPN-app prelims. If you already get ESPN2 through a TV provider, ESPN Select ($12.99/month) fills in the prelims cheaply.