M-1 Challenge 26 on Showtime averages 161,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Friday night’s showing of M-1 Challenge received an average viewership of 161,000 viewers. It was the organization’s second time on Showtime as the show broadcast from Costa Mesa, California.

Via MMA Junkie:

The number marks a 14.8 decrease in ratings from Showtime’s debut M-1 Challenge offering, which scored 189,000. By comparison, June’s Strikeforce Challengers 16 event, a similarly structured prospects-based event conducted under the Strikeforce banner, drew 210,000 viewers to Showtime.

Payout Perspective:

For a Friday night, these are good numbers. If you compare with Bellator’s Saturday night averages on MTV2, M-1 numbers are promising. Considering it was its second offering on Showtime, there’s room to grow. The smaller shows are really fun to watch and if you caught M-1’s show Friday you caught an amazing backfist knockout. It should be interesting to see how successful M-1 will be on Showtime.