Bellator 163 drew 507,000 viewers on Spike TV Friday night per Sports TV Ratings. It’s a decrease of approximately 13% from last month’s show. It’s the lowest ratings for a Bellator show in 2016.
In the main event of the night, Phil Davis captured the Bellator Light Heavyweight title over Liam McGeary.
According to Sports TV Ratings, it drew 254,000 viewers in the adult 18-49 demo.
Payout Perspective:
Pretty bad ratings for an otherwise good show. The NBA ruled the night with New York-Chicago and then Golden State-Lakers on ESPN. Still, the 507,000 total viewers have to be disappointing considering there was a title fight on the show. One might infer the indifference MMA fans have toward Bellator based on the fact it’s the lowest rated Bellator show of the year.
I forgot it was on until I was flipping the channel plus the main event was terrible for a title fight.
Chael vs tito is the match fans waiting for. Plus Ufc 205,206,207 and Faber retirement on Fox, Bellator will be lost in the shuffle.
I watched it, I make it a point to have it set on DVR. First fight was an excellent KO, but the card as a whole was boring.
I don’t usually agree with corny Ariel but Bellator should really cut down on the shows they do per year until the roster gets stack enough. They have a great young talent pool but nothing to warrant 20-25 shows in a year. 10 shows per year is enough. .
Plus, the silly kickboxing promotion has to go. I would rather for them to start an amateur style wrestling league, that might actually get over.
Agreed, kickboxing just doesnt interest the market here in the USA. Bellator was noble to try and get it going, but since the 70s, its (with ISKA and such) it just hasnt caught on in its many forms. Its a European sport, not an American one.