MMA Fighting reports that UFC 181 held on December 6th drew between 375,000-400,000. In addition, Dave Meltzer in his latest Wrestling Observer (subscription recommended) revealed the PPV numbers from UFC 178-180.
UFC PPV estimates UFC 178-181 and its respective main events
UFC 181: ~375K-400K (Hendricks-Lawler/Pettis-Melendez)
UFC 180: ~185K-200K (Werdum-Hunt)
UFC 179: ~160K-200K (Aldo-Mendes)
UFC 178: 205K (Mighty Mouse-Cariaso)
UFC 181 was the highest output in terms of PPV buys since July’s UFC 175. It had a strong card which included two title fights: Hendricks-Lawler and Pettis-Melendez. The other notable PPV number was UFC 180 which suffered from multiple issues including the injury to Cain Velasquez which changed the main event and the fact Bellator had a show on Spike TV.
Payout Perspective:
To show how far UFC PPVs have dropped in 2014, UFC 181 was the second largest PPV buy this year coming in second to UFC 175 (540,000). UFC 181 is likely the most-watched PPV since UFC 175 as this card was also available in movie theatres. Certainly, one would have thought this card could have done more but in a year where UFC PPVs have been off, this was a good (not great) result. These numbers might also temper expectations for January 3rd’s UFC 182 between Jones-Cormier.
HahahahahahHa….dont worry ronda Rousey will save the ufc….oh wait now its cm punk….hahahahaha….creditors watching closely….
Hard to see how any UFC PPV can break 800k at this point.
Crazy how it takes almost 3 months for ufc 178 numbers to come out but the 181 numbers are out in less then 2 weeks.
Regardless of injuries there was a time that sub 200k seemed impossible but right now it isn’t out of the ordinary. It’s going to be interesting what type of credit rating they get also taking into consideration the lawsuit which can’t help.
Death spiral in effect! Every single number across the board has gone significantly down down down! The only thing they have been bragging about was first expansion, which is a joke, except for a very few scattered shows, mythical TV deals, Reebok deal, and now CM Punk bahahahahahahah
And this card featured two young stars (Hendricks and Pettis). Spare me with pacquiao ppv numbers. Yes they were horrible but there was no undercard and absolutely no one knew his opponent. It also cost $70.00. Its pretty much over now for the UFC but i will give them UFC until the end of March after there big three cards (Jones, Silva, Weidman) to offcially proclaim it a niche sport. If none of those cards clear 450 k. Put the freakin nail in the coffin.
@Fightbusiness don’t be foolish – Weidman and Jones PPV will clear 450k, but I have my doubts with Silva (he has been dethroned and his myth status is gone).
@DforDelusional – oh boy is this a sign of things to come? A massive 2015? I think not. Good luck on our bet aahahahah!
My estimate is that UFC only sold 3.2M PPVs for all of 2014, with an average of only 270k per event.
The total PPV buys are roughly half 2013 buys and only 1/3rd 2010 buys.
These are very low #s, the lowest since 2005.
Chang, it is hard to see that because you are a moronic boxing troll.
Sal was wrong again about this ppv. He spews his bullshit then the numbers come out debunking his nonsense.
Fightbusiness with more of his apples and leprechauns comparisons.
Pettis/Hendricks are no where near top draws. Pacquaio, is the no. 2 draw in boxing, has sold ppvs in the past over a million and now can’t break 475k buys unless he fights a big name in a heated rematch. The Pac fight was $10 more per buy, that doesn’t make much of a difference considering how low his figure was.
The nail was in your coffin the second you decided to make any statement on here. You know nothing about either sport, you always fabricate and exaggerate numbers and you are nothing more than an idiotic boxing troll.
Hey, Leon The Schmo is back!
Getting ready for his name change, after he loses the bet he foolishly made.
What a moron.
4 troll posts in a row from Delusional even this is a record for him. 5m PPVs in 2015 what a joke lmao!
Leon the Schmo responds to my posts within 10 minutes, he is stalking me. Yikes!!!
2015 5m ppv buys….Leon The Schmo runs away in shame!!!!
D- Whats your excuse for Jon Jones’ & Cain Velasquez’ horrible ppv numbers? They are two young bonified stars and cant draw shit? Pac can easily clear 800k with a good dance partner (Amir Khan, Danny Garcia, Canelo, Adrian Broner, Madaina) $10.00 makes a big difference
Hendricks and Pettis are not stars are you freakin kidding me? One is on a wheaties box and the other arguably beat there biggest star.
All you haters (sal,tops,Chang da wang) post facts we already know. Pathetic losers go get laid.
Anti troll is sensitive hahahaha
MY numbers are right in the neighborhood, one could easily say boxing doubled ufc in PPV or came very close.Sucks to be D bahahha his merry go round of bullshit is exposed. The UFC was a gimmick that is basically over as anything serious other then a few decent fights. The bubble popped son, less then a million fans world wide! more like 200k hard core fans that will pay, another 200k casual fans and may be a few more free fans that don’t spend a dime. Cm Punk will be a big disappointment wait and see. Boxing has a lot of work to do, but decade after decade its always the best fight sport in town or should I say in the world. I bet these ufc numbers are much lower but who give a fuck they suck anyhow. I miss the days of Pride!!
Looks like the forecast for UFC of a 40% profit drop in 2014 is pretty spot on. This was one of the most stacked cards of 2014 with two title fights on the line, it was a great event but the numbers reflect just how many fans the UFC has lost since their days on Spike.
They can’t even get the heavier weight classes to draw or even when they put two championship fights in one card. PPV is a business that is built slowly, developing trust with the consumer and the UFC has gone out of its way to completely destroy that, I don’t see them regaining what they had back in 2009, back then NO ONE was missing events, it was not something you would even think about, it was blasphemous. Their whole push of being a TV property did not work out for them, and they think they can come back to PPV in 2015 and be King again, not going to happen.
Boxing is a different animal though, it has always being about the Main event, but it has never been about solely one person… it’s about the match up, which is the reason why Floyd Mayweather alone does 950k, Canelo by himself does 350k, yet Floyd vs Canelo = 2.2 mill and not 1.3 mill… Pacquiao can be pulling 400k buys by himself but if you match him up against Floyd then they’ll break the record again. Boxing is about the big fights and those will always do great.
Shit over the hill Manny who’s been fighting since 1995 just got paid more than 20 million for fighting a club fighter OUCH!!! You are right Boxing is a very different animal, UFC isnt even close!
“Whats your excuse for Jon Jones’ & Cain Velasquez’ horrible ppv numbers? They are two young bonified stars and cant draw shit? ”
What’s your excuse for Pacquaio’s horrible ppv numbers and don’t say it is his opponents? q]
Your numbers are pulled right out of your ass, you idiot. You can’t fucking count. You get schooled every time you open that dumb fucking mouth of yours. Do some math fuck face. The UFC has over 3m buys, boxing has slightly over 4m.
” I miss the days of Pride!!”
Yeah, gay pride, you fag.
D is losing it hahahaha….panic….reality setting in..ship is sinking
2014 PPV Tally Finals
Boxing- 4.925m
UFC- 3.165m
Boxing 8 events for 4,925,000
UFC 12 events for 3,165,000
Boxing PPV buys average per event, 616,625
UFC PPV buys average per event 263,750
D will whine about injuries but the truth is as clear as water.
Ufc 181 showcased 2 champs of their most popular divisions fighting for titles plus some badass heavyweights and couldn’t even break 400k buys. Mind you this is also with a full season of TUF promoting one of these fights.
Yep UFC ppv has taken a gigantic step backwards. The biggest fight on paper in 2015 is going to happen Jan. 3 so that will set the barometer. There is no bigger fight (promotionally) the UFC can do after that with current roster.
@ The Greatest : I will also add that boxing PPV are usually more expensive than UFC PPV. That probably means that for every dollar spent on a UFC PPV, $4-$5 is spent on boxing PPV.
But all this set aside the problem is not that, the problem is that even myself, a MMA fan who practice boxing judo and Muay Thai as recreational sports, have lost interest in the UFC this year. The cards were terrible, period. I’m looking forward to Jones VS Cormier, Weidman VS Belfort and Silva vs Diaz, but if injuries take away Silva, Belfort and Cormier let’s say, there’s not much else on those cards to watch. That to me is the UFC’s biggest problem.
My personal opinion is this: MMA is closer to WWE than to boxing in one thing, they need characters to sell their fights. They need Sonnen, GSP, Diaz, Lesnar. A highly skilled fighter with an average personality doesn’t sell because the sport doesn’t sell to average viewers on its own.
I have a background in martial arts, most people do not. I enjoy watching Metamoris, most people do not. The average sports fan is not interested in watching an olympic wrestling match with low level boxing and leg kicks added. They’ll only watch if the story’s big. We can moan about it, but that’s how it is and the addition of CM Punk to the UFC line up is a clear indication that they understand it too.
The Gayest is back!!!
Tops is came over and over again when she heard the news of the lawsuit.
Leon the Schmo is too stupid to realize that for one, Johny Hendricks is not a big star and does not sell ppvs well. He is going to be really unhappy when he has to admit being a schmo at the end of 2015.
JF, you act like boxing doesn’t need characters to sell their fights.
What the hell is Floyd Mayweather? Do you think people pay to watch him fight? I’d rather watch paint dry.
Also, Anderson Silva was charismatic? The guy barely spoke English.
Another illogical post by logical:
“They can’t even get the heavier weight classes to draw or even when they put two championship fights in one card.”
HAHAHAHA!! When was the last time their was even a boxing ppv?
How many boxing ppvs did close to 400k buys?
“Boxing is a different animal though, it has always being about the Main event, but it has never been about solely one person… it’s about the match up, which is the reason why Floyd Mayweather alone does 950k, Canelo by himself does 350k, yet Floyd vs Canelo = 2.2 mill and not 1.3 mill… Pacquiao can be pulling 400k buys by himself but if you match him up against Floyd then they’ll break the record again. Boxing is about the big fights and those will always do great.”
More idiotic bullshit.
Boxing can’t sell with as many stars as the UFC can, there have been a ton of guys over the past 5 years who have done over 500k buys for a ppv, whereas in boxing only 2 or 3 have. Also, when you have a big matchup in the ufc, it will also draw big ppv numbers, ie, Silva-Weidman, Evans-Jackson, Lesnar-Mir, etc. Boxing is about star power and they are losing their two biggest stars, one of which will never be replaced, because no one can sell like Mayweather. What is also funny is how all the boxing fans claim the reason why the ufc does more ppv buys is because they have more ppvs, then when boxing expands its ppv and has double the number in 2014 that they had in 2013, their numbers stayed the same. Because they can’t sell with multiple stars like the UFC can!!
It is going to be a gradual declining road for them.
2014 PPV Tally Finals
Boxing- 4.925m
UFC- 3.165m
Boxing 8 events for 4,925,000
UFC 12 events for 3,165,000
Boxing PPV buys average per event, 616,625
UFC PPV buys average per event 263,750
UFC PPV events = $50
Boxing PPV events = $70
:):):)
:):)
🙂
D Bahahahahahahahahha whine whine cry cry !!! bahahahah My numbers are close, dam look at the averages haha look who’s schooled!!!! I hear the WWE is looking for fan boy paid trolls haha
D you are a lost cause. You are disagreeing with everyone on this board and are drowning. Only a fool would continue.
The UFC had a bad year. Boxing is declining decade over decade. If you account for the superstars in boxing, and the increase in healthy competition between promotions in MMA, I think all is well for fans and business.
I think it’s very clear that both boxing and MMA have problems, but to mention the “death” of either is extremely naive.
And please stop with the “bahahahahaha”. No one really laughs like that when they’re typing, right?
Was Froch-Groves 2 added to the 4.925 million buys for boxing?
Remember they did about 1 million buys in the UK.
Wait a second, I am an idiot. The Froch-Groves 2 fight only cost $17 per view. I have to be retarded to have no realized this.
Leon, you are agreeing with Sal. That in itself goes to show how much of a fucking idiot you are. The only ones disagreeing with me here are people who literally dedicate their day to trolling this website. Enjoy your new name at the end of 2015.
Sal, you are seriously retarded.
Boxing ppv gross $ 344,750,000
Ufc ppv gross. $158,250,000
Oh wait thats more then double!!! Haha
Froch-Groves was £17 which equals $27.
At 1 million buys that’s $27 million which is what 500,000 US buys is worth.
So I guess you can say boxing did 5.4 million buys in 2014.
UFC did less than 3.2 million in 2014.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAH…
next year will be even more lopsided with Pacquiao-Mayweather hitting 3 million buys for one event.
all the boxing hbo and showtime numbers should be counted at $5 to $10 dollars, and ufc fox numbers oh wait thats free! ok $1 Prediction pac and floyd fight 3 times
Saldaqueef’s numbers are as inflated as his delusional thoughts.
Prediction: you don’t shower for at least a year.
The delusions of grandeur running through here by Sampson are funny. She thinks that Froch-Groves II hit 1m buys, where in reality the source of those claims came from the promoter. Really dumb stuff.
5.4 million buys > 3.2 million
5.4 m buys equals a fabricated and fictitious number. Who had more ppv buys the past 7 years?
Ha! D is desperate, no where to run, we all know boxing smoked the UFC in 2014, must be sad sad over at zuffa, D must be worried about where he is going to work. No more budget for fan boy losers to blog. I vote for D to be one of the new ring girls hahahahaha wow the uFC spend half a billion dollars and loses revenue, ppv sales, tv views, and all around failure how pathetic. Must suck to be the fool who made that business plan. So instead of increasing after spending 500 million they are going backwards wow sucks haha.
Hahaha. Talk about desperate, a guy that was humiliated when he didn’t even know what a corporation is, just continues to spin more of his bullshit because he is a cocksucker for Bob Arum. Don’t ever attempt to claim you even know what a business plan is mr sales taxes are federal income tax.
Boxing had more ppv buys in 2014 only because nearly every major ufc card headliner was scrapped, HAHAHAHA!! That is how pathetic boxing’s ppv sales are. After getting destroyed the past 7 years by the ufc, they needed an apocalyptic amount of ppv headliners to get injured to squeak by the ufc in terms of buys. Only a pathetic geriatric who hasn’t showered in a year would defend boxing here.
Sal smells like doo doo.
Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 & 2 > Total UFC PPVs in 2015
It’s been an interesting year for the UFC. This should be considered a build up year for the league. We can safely say that they have hit their bottom. 2015 should be a more interesting year than 2014 with Cormier-Jones starting the year off. This event should garner their biggest draw since UFC 168, which was included in the 2013 numbers. If UFC 168 event was a few days later, 2014 would not have looked as bad.
I’m not trying to defend the their business practices, however, for the naysayers who think the UFC are about to implode, I would invite you back here next year to discuss. Cormier-Jones will easily eclipse 700K, and it would not be a stretch to think it could do 800K.
Now if Bob Arum can pull off Pacquiao-Mayweather, no one will be talking much about MMA for the first half of 2015. Boxing will likely better their 2014 numbers. I’m going to say the same thing I said on this forum many moons ago when everyone preached that boxing was dead, MMA will not die. It will go through the same ebbs and flows that every sport has to endure.
Top 5 predictions for 2015
1, Zuffa sells UFC or Dana White is no longer running the organization
2. Boxing has 2 PPVs that eclipse 2 million buys
3. Cormier will defeat Jon Jones and defend his title 2 more times during the year
4. Fedor will fight at least 1 MMA fight
5. Bellator will host an event at the Saitama Super Arena
Pac/Mayweather would come no where near the ufc in 2015 and may wind up on a network.
Pink Pig=Fag boy Sampson
MMAGURU, I’d be amazed if any of your predictions came through in 2015.
Bye bye Dana… you Pink Pig!!!
🙂