UFC 324, the first pay-per-view event under Paramount’s newly announced $7.7 billion distribution deal, drew immediate backlash from fans after a prolonged Travis Barker–led promotional segment delayed the start of live fights.
Criticism spread rapidly across social media as viewers voiced frustration with production decisions that many felt overshadowed the event’s competitive action. The card had already been disrupted before the broadcast began.
Two late bout cancellations scrapped scheduled preliminary fights, pushing the start of the main card approximately 72 minutes past its planned time. When the broadcast finally opened, fans were met not with fighter walkouts, but extended studio segments and a produced opening video centered on Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
The segment featured Barker drumming to the band’s song Feeling This while narrating comparisons between UFC fighters and rock, punk, and heavy metal culture. Barker, who is married to Kourtney Kardashian, was prominently featured as Paramount debuted its new presentation style for UFC programming.
Viewer frustration escalated quickly. One fan wrote, “Yeah, don’t invite Travis Barker back again.” Another commented, “NO ONE GIVES A S*** ABOUT TRAVIS BARKER START THE FIGHTS.”
Much of the criticism focused on timing rather than celebrity involvement, with fans pointing to the already significant delays caused by the earlier fight cancellations.
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Once the action finally got underway, the event itself delivered strong performances inside the Octagon. Ty Miller opened the night with a dramatic first-round finish over Adam Fugitt, earning a $25,000 bonus under the UFC’s newly announced reward structure.
Knockout victories from Josh Hokit and Nikita Krylov followed, helping stabilize momentum after a turbulent broadcast opening. Despite the quality of the fights, frustration over the opening presentation continued to dominate online discussion throughout the night.
One viewer wrote, “This UFC paramount opening with Travis Barker is one of the lamest things I’ve ever seen.” The reaction underscored lingering concerns about tone and pacing during what was intended to be a high-profile launch for the promotion’s new broadcast era.
Fans Question Paramount’s Celebrity Focus During Delayed Broadcast
Several fans also questioned Barker’s relevance to the sport. One comment read, “Travis Barker says he’s a huge fan of UFC fan, can’t name a single f****** fighter besides Jones. What a can.” Others criticized the segment as excessive promotion rather than meaningful integration into the broadcast.
Another fan questioned the creative direction outright, asking, “What is Paramount’s obsession with Travis Barker Blink-182? What do they have to do with UFC?”
Yeah, don't invite Travis Barker back again #UFC324
— Clinton #foranewliberty (@AussieLaissez) January 24, 2026
Broader frustration with production decisions was echoed in another post, which stated, “Paramount is overproducing this right now. Should’ve been that first intro and then directly into the Allen vs Silva walkout. Why am I watching a Travis Barker drum solo right now?”
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Celebrity involvement has long been a part of UFC events, typically limited to crowd appearances or fighter walkout music.
Neither Paramount nor the UFC has publicly addressed the fan reaction. With the partnership still in its early stages, future broadcasts are expected to adjust pacing and presentation as the deal continues to evolve.
