Sports
UFC debut sets streaming records for Paramount+
Jan 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Justin Gaethje (red gloves) fights Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) during UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images The UFC’s new era on Paramount+ didn’t just arrive — it kicked the door in.
The UFC’s first numbered event under its new Paramount+ deal delivered immediate record-setting results for the streamer. Paramount+ and the promotion announced that UFC 324 this past Saturday became the platform’s biggest exclusive live event to date, reaching 7.18 million households and averaging 4.96 million live streaming views for the main card, with 5.93 million peak concurrent streams.
In the same announcement, the companies said the show “reached more homes than any other live UFC event in nearly a decade across linear, broadcast and streaming,” citing Adobe Analytics and Nielsen. The event was available to Paramount+ subscribers without an added pay-per-view charge.
The night’s centerpiece was an interim lightweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Justin Gaethje outlasted Paddy Pimblett over five rounds for a unanimous decision win.
Direct comparisons to the pay-per-view era are imperfect, but the scale stands out: The UFC’s best-selling PPV event topped out at 2.4 million buys, while this debut drew viewership in the millions of households. The reported totals reflect live viewing only and do not include co-viewing or replay audiences, meaning the final reach could still climb in the coming days.
In August of last year, the UFC and Paramount agreed to a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal to bring all UFC numbered events and fight nights to the streaming service.
–Field Level Media
Sports
D-backs LHP Andrew Saalfrank (shoulder) out for season
Sep 26, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Andrew Saalfrank (27) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever Andrew Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery on Monday.
The team confirmed the news after it was reported by MLB.com, with Saalfrank posting about the surgery with an accompanying picture on Instagram.
Saalfrank had a 1.24 ERA over 28 relief appearances (29 innings) for the Diamondbacks last season.
In parts of three major league seasons with Arizona, the 28-year-old is 2-1 with a 1.79 ERA over 40 relief appearances (40 1/3 innings).
–Field Level Media
Sports
No. 5 Iowa State in search of finishing kick vs. TCU
Iowa State Cyclones center Dishon Jackson (1) looks for drive to the basket around TCU Horned Frogs Guard Brendan Wenzel (0) and center Malick Diallo (32) during the second half in the Big-12 men’s basketball at Hilton Coliseum on Feb 8, 2025 in Ames, Iowa. Opportunity awaits TCU when it hosts No. 5 Iowa State in a Big 12 Conference contest on Tuesday at Fort Worth, Texas.
TCU (14-9, 4-6 Big 12) picked up an 84-82 home win over Kansas State on Saturday behind a career-high 26 points from Xavier Edmonds. The Horned Frogs overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute. The junior made 9 of 10 field-goal attempts, shot 7 of 10 from the free throw line and pulled down 10 rebounds. He has posted a double-double in five straight games.
Without a weekday game last week, the Horned Frogs picked up some rest and had enough in the tank to rally from an 18-point deficit for the victory. But the wait was long after consecutive defeats.
“That was terrible, Micah (Robinson) and I talked about that,” Edmonds said about the weekday bye. “We said we have a long week of break. We have to make sure we take care of business and feel good going into the break, or it would feel like a month off. It felt like it was about two months.”
Iowa State (21-1, 8-2) built a sizable second-half lead and shook off determined Baylor 72-69 on Saturday. The Cyclones struggled to close the door on the Bears, who ripped off the final 11 points of the game before time expired.
Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey had his usual stat-sheet stuffing performance. He scored 14 points, pulled down nine rebounds, handed out three assists and had two steals. Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger noted that the veteran point guard sets a high standard for the entire team.
When Lipsey turned up his defensive effort on the perimeter in the second half, Baylor went from shooting 42.9% from 3-point range to just 29.4% after the break.
“Tamin just lays it on the line,” Otzelberger said. “It felt like there were two of him out there on some possessions against Baylor. The plays that he is making, the steals that he is getting, the rebounds he is chasing down … there’s a physicality about how he does everything. He lays it all on the line and he’s done that for the program for four years. His 33 minutes (against Baylor) might be like 50 minutes for someone else because of how hard he plays.”
Because they have a resume littered with dubious losses, most recently an 87-61 blowout loss at Colorado on Feb. 1, TCU coach Jamie Dixon said the Horned Frogs have to make the most of their chance to pick off a top-ranked opponent when they face the Cyclones.
The Horned Frogs are No. 53 in the NCAA NET and 3-6 in Quad 1 games.
“We have to get ready for Iowa State,” Dixon said. “We know we are on the bubble. A loss against Kansas State would have killed us. We are still there. We have to do some things to get better, play better and I know we can.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Pacers F Johnny Furphy out for season with torn ACL
Feb 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers guard Johnny Furphy (12) reacts after injuring himself during the second half against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy is expected to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, multiple outlets reported Monday.
Furphy injured his right knee on an awkward landing following a dunk in the third quarter of Sunday’s 122-104 loss to the host Toronto Raptors. He was helped off the court before he went to the locker room in a wheelchair.
The native Australian reportedly underwent MRI testing Monday which revealed the extent of his injury. The typical timeline for recovery from a torn ACL is 6-12 months, meaning Furphy’s absence could extend into next season.
In his second year in the league after being drafted by the Pacers in the second round in 2024, Furphy started 21 of his 35 regular-season appearances.
He averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.4 minutes per game this season after he averaged 2.1 points per game last season in 50 games off the bench.
–Field Level Media
D-backs LHP Andrew Saalfrank (shoulder) out for season
No. 5 Iowa State in search of finishing kick vs. TCU
