TKO Group Holdings continues to ride a wave of major media rights deals to stronger growth, with Paramount’s lucrative new deal with the UFC officially kicking off in Q1. The company, which owns UFC, WWE, IMG and other brands like On Location and PBR, revealed that in Q1 it had revenue of $1.6 billion (up 26 percent), net income of $250 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $550 million (up 32 percent). The company also disclosed a plan to increase its share buybacks by $1 billion. “TKO is off to a formidable start in 2026, with strong results and continued momentum across each of our businesses,” said Ariel Emanuel, executive chair and CEO of TKO. “We are reaffirming our full-year guidance, and today’s incremental $1 billion share repurchase authorization underscores our conviction in TKO and its long-term value.” At UFC, revenue soared by 12 percent to $401 million, driven by a $51 million surge in media rights (thanks to the new Paramount agreement), offset by a $10 million decrease in live events and hospitality. Partnerships and …