Episode 9 of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights drew a 1.7 HH rating for an average viewership of 2.4 million. However, the show continues to attract well in the M18-34 and M18-49 demos with a 3.2 and 2.6 respectively.
Payout Perspective:
Here’s a look at the entire ratings picture:
| Overall | M18-34 | M18-49 | |
| Episode 1 | 2.9 | 5.3 | 4.3 |
| Episode 2 | 2.2 | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| Episode 3 | 3.7 | 6.9 | 5.4 |
| Episode 4 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 2.4 |
| Episode 5 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| Episode 6 | 2.1 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| Episode 7 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 2.8 |
| Episode 8 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
| Episode 9 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
The season averages – 2.3 in HH, 4.1 in M18-34, and a 3.2 in M18-49 – are slightly misleading in the sense that they’re skewed by the initial three episodes of the season. The median ratings for each category are lower and better approximate the reality of TUF’s ratings this season: 2.2 in HH, 3.6 in M18-34, and 2.8 in M18-49.
MMAPayout.com has covered the series almost ad nauseum over the last two months, and there really isn’t much left to analyse. The ratings have been stellar on account of Kimbo (and to a far lesser degree Rampage vs. Rashad), but the season has shown a regression to the TUF mean since his departure from the competition. If, indeed, Kimbo does fight on the Finale, expect his bout to be televised, and expect the event to be one of the highest – if not the highest – rated UFC on Spike segments ever.
Overall the show average is probably considered somewhat of a success. With Kimbo fighting on the finale? We will likely see a spike in that show as well. The Kimbo experiment once again appears to have provided some much need life support to another dying show.
Kimbo losing week 3 clearly has something to do with it, but the new season of South Park also started week 4 which is also on at 10PM et wed night. This isn’t the first season they have gone up against SP either, seems like an iffy decision to go up against such a well known show in what has to be pretty much the exact same demographic.