Kayla Harrison shocked at White House dinner revelation about UFC's value ahead of historic 2026 event

Kayla Harrison: “I was just sitting there… shocked.”

Speaking during a live show with Ariel Helwani, Harrison revealed that Trump and White began discussing the UFC’s valuation in front of her. What she heard stunned her.

“At one point Trump was like, ‘I remember when you sold the company for $4 billion,’ and he was like, ‘That was great.’ They’re both talking about their billions of dollars, and I’m just sitting there like, ‘Oh,’” Harrison recounted.

Then came the number that made her eyes widen.

“Trump asks Dana, ‘What do you think it’s worth now?’ And Dana said, ‘It’s estimated at around $23 billion.’ And I was like, ‘That’s really good to know going into negotiations,’” Harrison said, laughing. “Trump thought that was hilarious.”

For a fighter entering the prime of her championship run and one of the UFC’s highest-profile athletes the moment was both surreal and revealing.

UFC’s new broadcast era begins in 2026

The White House mega-event will coincide with the launch of the UFC’s new broadcast partnership with Paramount, which begins in January 2026. Harrison’s title defense against Amanda Nunes will headline the first “numbered” card of this new era.

The shift represents one of the most sweeping changes to the UFC viewing model in two decades.

Previously, American fans needed:

• An ESPN+ subscription
• Plus an additional purchase for each pay-per-view event

But starting in 2026, fans in the U.S. will be able to watch every Fight Night and every numbered event with nothing more than a Paramount+ subscription, which the company announced will cost just $59.99 per year.

That price includes:

• All PPV-equivalent cards
• All Fight Nights
• All international events available to the U.S. audience

The move is expected to dramatically expand the UFC’s reach and potentially increase fighter leverage as the company’s valuation skyrockets.

What comes next?

Kayla Harrison’s reaction to the UFC’s estimated $23 billion valuation has already ignited discussion about fighter pay heading into the new broadcast deal. With the White House event shaping up to be a watershed moment for the company, and with Harrison still pushing to be included, her upcoming contract negotiations suddenly feel much more significant.

For now, though, Harrison remains focused on UFC 324 and her rivalry with Amanda Nunes. But after that? A seat at the biggest fight card in MMA history is still very much on her radar.