MMA Fighting reports that the UFC 156 Prelims on FX scored an average of 1,860,000 million viewers. Its the best average ever in the history of live MMA shows on FX.
The ratings for Saturday outdid UFC on FX 7 a couple weeks ago. The numbers are a pleasant surprise considering the lack of names on the prelim card.
Payout Perspective:
The ratings are very good considering the lack of name recognition fighters and the questionable marketing of the PPV. Although the UFC dubbed Aldo-Edgar as a “Superfight,” marketing these two as the top attraction was risky based on their prior showings on PPV. So, with the ratings exceeding expectations, does that mean it got enough people to purchase the PPV?
As we have seen in the past. It is hard to connect these prelim ratings with Buy rates. The high number could mean there were lots of people ready for the PPV to start or it could mean there was a lot of people watching the Prelims because they were on the fense about the PPV. Even the biggest selling PPVs dont get this many viewers for prelims so we know it doesnt directly relate to buy rates. BUt good ratings are good ratings. Definately good news and will help these fighters down the road regardless of buy rates for this event.
Yeah who knows what that means for PPV but it probably means it did more than the 200k Bjorn thought it would do.
I’d say 350-450k.
I’d be really surprised if it did less than 400k buys. Rebney’s prediction comes off as a petty dig at a promotion that’s doing much better than his own.
Also, despite the evidence that prelim ratings are often not indicative of PPV buys, these are good ratings.