UFC 202 is trending to be one of the top PPV buys in the history of the company as Dave Meltzer is reporting that the estimated buys are ranging from 1.2 million to 1.5 million buys.
UFC 202 featured the Conor-Nate II with McGregor taking the majority decision in an epic 5-round battle.
The estimated buy rates show that Conor McGregor is the new PPV king.
In addition, Meltzer reports that the internet sales via the UFC web site were up for the event which reflects a strong buy trend for this PPV.
While reports that ticket sales were lagging which resulted in a drop in prices, it still drew the 5th largest gate in company history with $7,629,010.
Recent McGregor PPV buy rates:
UFC 189: 825,000
UFC 194: 1,200,000
UFC 196: ~1,100,000
Payout Perspective:
As Meltzer points out, all the indicators reflect a strong PPV buy rate. The UFC Prelims drew 1.3 million PPV buys. Google trends registered 5 million searches for UFC 202 on Saturday. With UFC 202 doing over 1 million PPV buys, that would make 3 events (UFC 196, UFC 200 and UFC 202) going over 1 million PPV buys. A pretty good year without event factoring in the New York debut in November. It also confirms that Conor McGregor (and to an extent Nate Diaz) are PPV draws.
In addition, we might want to take note of the purchases on the UFC web site to watch the PPVs. Although no discounts this time around, the company is offering a percentage off UFC 203’s PPV for filling out an email survey. Promos like this are helping lure fans to the UFC site to purchase the events instead of the cable and satellite distributors.
196 is reported at 1.5/6 mill not 1.1 million.
Right now UFC is killing it, McGregor is biggest star in the game, UFC has had 5 PPv since Nov do over a million buys.
And now you have MSG card, next McGregor fight, Ronda’s comeback and GSP’s comeback.
I dont think they all fight this year but some are saying McGregor 205, GSP 206 and Ronda 207 to close out the year.
If thats the case UFC will break its own PPV record, they are already over 6 million buys this year, they could close in on the magic 9 mill number.
Awesome.
UFC continues to take over the world of combat sports.
Another milestone about to be reached with its début at MSG.
The growth continues.
Hey Full Life – no wonder the UFC sold so fast huh? That downward trend is so obvious.
More great numbers for a growing sport.
Combo, its not “taking over combat sports”….its appealing to its suburban upper middle class white base. Boxing appeals to an inner city middle to lower class black and latino base.If folks cannot see that they are deluding themselves. The demographics in the USA of who watches and is involved in either sport is almost totally different.
Combo these are the same folks that bought his last few fights, there is zero growth lol, not sure what you’re talking about.
I don’t know if I’d call McGregor the ppv king.
His fight against Diaz sold well because he lost the first fight.
I think if he fights RDA, the fight does 700k. Diaz winning and Diaz himself, made it intriguing.
McGregor is really their only star, and he aint fighting for at least 7 months, and if it aint Diaz III, it probably wont get over 1m, but who knows.
Mayweather could return and fight Pacquiao again and do 3m ppv buys, so I think Mayweather is still PPV king until we know hes done for good.
Id also say that the biggest combat star in the world is probably still Manny Pacquiao or Wladimir Klitschko, but you can make a strong case that its Canelo Alvarez.
fight fan – if year on year you are growing your PPV buys, then you are growing.
UFC returns to Germany this weekend, debuting in Hamburg
The television ban there has been lifted and TV deal reached.
The growth continues.
All of the comments in denial about UFC and Conor are so delusional. This year, UFC has solidified its spot as the #1 combat sport, finally surpassing boxing. Numbers don’t lie. From attendance, tv ratings and PPv numbers; the UFC crushed boxing this year. I don’t see that trend coming to an end any time soon. Mcgregor-Diaz was THE biggest fight of the year period. You can come up with any excuse you want. White suburban kids? lmao, I own a bar and the crowd was very mixed, and packed. NO boxing fight does 1 million this year. Only one that can ya the May-Pac rematch…… One of those guys is retired tho. I’m a boxing fan first, but stop the denial and crazy excuses. That race/demographic one was one of the worst I’ve ever heard. Boxing is #2 behind UFC for 2016, maybe that changes in ’17, maybe it doesn’t. What’s my proof/reasoning? To quote Jay-Z “Men lie, women lie, NUMBERS don’t.” That’s all the proof you need
The denial is a result of the insecurity felt now that boxing isn’t the king of combat sports anymore.
This event broke the PPV record for the UFC. Look for a number north of 1.6 million.