UFC Turns Spectators into Active Prediction Experts

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UFC Turns Spectators into Active Prediction Experts

Bitget-RWA2025/11/13 19:15

By:Bitget-RWA

- UFC parent TKO Group partners with Polymarket to integrate real-time fan prediction markets into live broadcasts, marking a first for major sports. - The collaboration features global sentiment scoreboards during fights and speculative social media content for post-fight matchups, enhancing audience interaction. - Zuffa Boxing (launching Jan 2026) adopts Polymarket as its first official partner, aligning with TKO's streaming strategy on Paramount+ and boosting stock by 2.3% premarket. - Polymarket's $15B

Polymarket Teams Up with UFC to Offer Live Crypto-Based Fan Predictions

TKO Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TKO), the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Zuffa Boxing, has entered into a partnership with Polymarket, a prediction market platform, to bring real-time fan prediction features to its broadcasts and live events. This partnership,

revealed on November 13, 2025

, represents the first instance of a major sports league embedding prediction market technology directly into its live fan experience, aiming to shift viewers from passive spectators to active participants.

Through this multi-year partnership, Polymarket will introduce a live scoreboard during UFC events,

displaying how fans around the world predict fight results as each round progresses

UFC Turns Spectators into Active Prediction Experts image 0

The scoreboard will act as a "data-driven storytelling layer," supplementing traditional commentary by showing shifts in fan sentiment and momentum in real time. Polymarket will also roll out a social media series, Matchup Predictions – Who's Next?,

spotlighting possible future matchups for leading UFC athletes

and sparking speculative conversations on its platform.

This collaboration will also cover Zuffa Boxing, the new professional boxing venture launching in January 2026. Polymarket will

become Zuffa Boxing’s inaugural official brand partner

, bringing in-arena activations and digital content to boost fan involvement. This initiative fits with TKO’s broader goal of expanding its sports entertainment portfolio,

especially as UFC and Zuffa Boxing move to exclusive U.S. streaming on Paramount+

starting in 2026.

The announcement has already influenced TKO’s stock,

with shares climbing about 2.3% in premarket trading

after the news broke. Polymarket, which returned to the U.S. in beta after resolving a 2022 CFTC enforcement action, is

now valued at up to $15 billion after receiving investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)

. The platform has

processed billions in predictions throughout 2025

, using its technology to visualize collective expectations during live sports.

This partnership comes as regulators show increased interest in sports prediction markets. ProphetX, another startup in the sector, has

submitted applications to the CFTC to be recognized as a Designated Contract Market

and Derivatives Clearing Organization, aiming to become the first regulated U.S. exchange for sports event contracts. While ProphetX’s RFQ Parlay Mechanism targets institutional-style trading,

Polymarket’s strategy focuses on broad public accessibility

by integrating with social media and live broadcasts.

TKO’s Ariel Emanuel highlighted the partnership’s ability to “open up a new level of fan engagement,” noting that prediction markets offer a non-competitive, data-centric way to interact with sports, differing from traditional betting.

Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan pointed out that UFC’s emotional intensity

makes it a perfect fit for prediction markets, allowing fans to “see global expectations shift with every round.”

This agreement reflects a larger movement of prediction markets into mainstream entertainment. Polymarket has recently been integrated with Google Finance and Yahoo Finance, and has also

formed partnerships with PrizePicks and the National Hockey League

. At the same time, rivals such as DraftKings and CME Group are exploring regulated sports betting contracts, indicating a competitive and rapidly changing market.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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