UFC on Fox main card this past Saturday drew less than the actual overnights as it scored 1,983,000 viewers with a 1.2 rating in the adult 18-49 demo and a 2 share. The ratings were hampered due to some major markets including Detroit and Las Vegas showing the sign on tape delay or on another station.
The overnight rating of 2.22 million viewers was skewed due to some major markets airing NFL preseason games during the time slot. In addition, the short main event may have hurt the overall number due to the fact that most UFC on Fox shows do their best in the overrun.
The peak viewership for the event was 2,207,000 viewers from 9:15-9:30pm ET. This was during the Pettis-Oliveira fight.
The UFC on Fox Prelims drew a 0.7 ratings with a 2 share for 1.122 million viewers. It delivered a 0.6 rating among men 18-34 with 189,000 viewers. The prelims preceded the main card from 6-8pm ET on Fox.
UFC on Fox Ratings | |||
Overnights | Live + SD | ||
UFC on Fox 1 | 5,700,000 | ||
UFC on Fox 2 | 4,570,000 | ||
UFC on Fox 3 | 2,250,000 | 2,400,000 | |
UFC on Fox 4 | 2,360,000 | 2,400,000 | |
UFC on Fox 5 | 3,410,000 | 4,400,000 | |
UFC on Fox 6 | 3,770,000 | 4,220,000 | |
UFC on Fox 7 | 3,300,000 | 3,700,000 | |
UFC on Fox 8 | 2,040,000 | 2,380,000 | |
UFC on Fox 9 | 2,410,000 | 2,800,000 | |
UFC on Fox 10 | 2,550,000 | 3,220,000 | |
UFC on Fox 11 | 1,990,000 | 2,500,000 | |
UFC on Fox 12 | 2,020,000 | 2,500,000 | |
UFC on Fox 13 | 2,270,000 | 2,800,000 | |
UFC on Fox 14 | 2,820,000 | 3,049,000 | |
UFC on Fox 15 | 2,430,000 | 2,745,000 | |
UFC on Fox 16 | 2,290,000 | 2,800,000 | |
UFC on Fox 17 | 2,280,000 | 2,781,000 | |
UFC on Fox 18 | 2,430,000 | 2,685,000 | |
UFC on Fox 19 | 2,130,000 | 2,500,000 | |
UFC on Fox 20 | 2,440,000 | 2,975,000 | |
UFC on Fox 21 | 2,220,000 | 1,983,000 | |
Payout Perspective:
The preemption of the UFC on Fox show in some major markets due to NFL preseason may mean that we will not see another UFC on Fox show in late August. Its the first time that the ratings have gone down from overnights as the lack of an overrun plus the preemption due to football caused the drop.
Wil says
around 2m seems to be the norm for the UFC on FOX shows now versus the higher numbers of the older cards. It should be no surprise that without real star power or controversy, the numbers will skew lower, especially now with NFL starting. Even so, that they can still retain 2m viewers speaks volumes about the fan base being fans of the brand rather than specific fighters or even attractive matches. With the UFC, unlike Bellator or WSOF, the young demographic seems to by and large care little about who is fighting, only that there is a card.
ETOPS says
Condit and Maia are stars in the MMA world, PVZ is a star and Pettis was on the Wheaties box. They had some names on there.
Wasn’t the huge Mexico soccer game on at the same time? They drew like 1.9 million viewers.
Wil says
ETOPs, no bro, Maia and Pettis are not stars. And anyone who has actually watched Maia fight knows he makes mma fights into Abu Dabi BJJ world championship matches. He is without a doubt the most boring fighter in the UFC to watch. someone like that will NEVER be a star.
Fight Fan says
Horrible numbers, ufc has over saturated their product And are now paying the price
Chris says
LOL FIght Fan, they just did highest summer show a month ago, yeah they are really paying the price.
Maybe if you read the article where it says the show didnt even air in a bunch of markets so the numbers were down.
Keep hating while UFC keeps killing it.
Whats that, 5 PPV in last 10 months doing over a million buys, oh yeah.
Gil says
Remember when UFC fans laughed when Elite XC generated nearly 5m viewers on network tv a few time?
UFC fans were saying, “what a failure. UFC does better on cable. Elite xc is dead. hahahaha”
How times have changed.
BrainSmasher says
Wil, it’s not that the fans don’t like good fights. That brings in fans as well. But the ufc is now like other sports leagues. Fans of one team watch all the other teams because they are all directly related to their team in the same system. Division standings and future match ups and stats. The ufc is the same way. People watch all the events because all the fights are connected and part of the system. The ufc has 20-60 fighters in each division. Little reason to go find the 75th ranked guys who don’t impact the biggest prize in the sport. Old names is all those promotions can offer and the rare accession they make a star who will soon be signed by the ufc.