Welcome to another edition of PPV History. This time we take a look at the PPV History of UFC 162’s main eventers. Realistically, the strength of this event’s numbers rests solely on Anderson Silva.
Anderson Silva
Arguably, Silva is the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), goat can have a dual meaning based on Silva’s whimsical attitudes when it comes to media (e.g., being fined $50K for missing media obligation in LA) and fights (UFC 112). But, Silva has a strong Brazilian following and his skills are second to none.
Father Time always wins (see Kobe Bryant), but he may be starting to look at his watch with Silva. Undoubtedly, Silva is a top draw (if not running a close second to GSP).
| EVENT | OPPONENT | DATE | BUY RATE | RATING |
| UFC 153 | Stephan Bonnar (W –TKO) | 10/13/12 | 410,000 | |
| UFC 148 | Chael Sonnen (W – TKO) | 07/07/12 | 925,000 | |
| UFC 134 | Yushin Okami (W – TKO) | 08/27/11 | 335,000 | |
| UFC 126 | Vitor Belfort (W – KO) | 02/05/11 | 725,000 | |
| UFC 117 | Chael Sonnen (W – Submission) | 08/07/10 | 600,000 |
Despite the two events less than 500K, which were both fights in Brazil, Silva is a must-see PPV main event.
Chris Weidman
The casual MMA fan does not know too much about Chris Weidman although this UFC Countdown help us get to know him and his personal story. Yet, he’s been off since last year so its hard to recall how he will do. He beat Mark Munoz in decisive fashion last year although Munoz states he was not at 100%.
| EVENT | OPPONENT | DATE | BUY RATE | RATING |
| UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz v. Weidman | Mark Munoz (W – KO) | 07/11/12 | 211,000 (Versus) | |
| UFC on Fox: Evans v. Davis | Demian Maia (W) | 01/28/12 | 4.7 million | |
| UFC 139 | Tom Lawlor (W – Technical Submission | 11/19/11 | 290,000 | |
| UFC 131 | Jesse Bongfeldt (W – Submission) | 06/11/11 | 330,000 | |
| UFC Live: Sanchez v. Kampmann | Alessio Sakara (W) | 03/03/11 | 681,000/0.67 |
It will be interesting to see how Weidman does on Saturday. Aside from the Munoz fight, Weidman has been on the undercard of fights. If he beats Silva, he’ll shoot straight to the top as one of the faces of the UFC.
As for the rest of the card, Frankie Edgar is the only other UFC fighter with a PPV history worth mentioning. But, maybe we shouldn’t given the fact it’s not that good.
Payout Perspective:
UFC 162’s success will depend on one fighter: Anderson Silva. While the marketing for Chris Weidman has been good, it’s relied on other fighters’ (i.e., GSP, Evans, Maynard) recommendations of his gym work to bolster his credibility. If Weidman succeeds, the UFC could have a new star. But Weidman himself is not the reason for the interest in the fight. But, its the intrigue of whether an upstart can dethrone the champion that will carry the fans on the fence to buy this PPV.
I would be shocked if it pulls the numbers sonnen pulled. Weidman is no villain and won’t literally say anything like sonnen. It takes two to get good buys and weidman is relatively anonymous. Unless you are brock lesnar of course.
This fight is the hardest to pick all year and probably the best promoted. I think it’ll do at least 600,000 despite Weidman not being a big name.
This event is just a formality. The reL money will come from the auto rematch Silva will get. We will find out in the first couple minutes if Silva can keep the distance. I think Weidman wins via arm triangle in round 2 or 3.
Real money? Dana says it will come beleive it will come……let’s all wait..haha…24k for a championship fight and against p4p fighter is an insult….
Munoz and Kennedy both win…lol…Dana can’t cut them…..they should not stop telling the public what’s up with how UFC is treating them…..
Yup. white’s sycophants were desperate for them to lose, and actually picked up big wins. Sure Dana can cut them, because apparently he is the god of MMA and everything fighters have comes from his generous pocket (sarcasm). but he would look like an even bigger jerk.
One of the haters claimed Munoz didn’t have any big wins. Yet beating Munoz is what gave Weidman his claim to the title. And they both beat a common opponent in Demian Maia who is a beast. I mean Maia toyed with Sonnen in their fight. and I actually had Maia pegged before he came to the UFC to win the strap (still in progress unfortunately, but he is on his way to a 170 title shot.Either way he is one of the best ever to not be champion…. yet.) Some people have a very skewed perspective.