The UFC returned to network television in January as it aired two shows in 2021 on ABC. The promotion held 2 televised cards on ABC.
The first UFC on ABC aired in January featuring Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar in the feature. The telecast drew 1.22M viewers. The telecast went up against the NFC Playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers.
The second UFC on ABC aired in April opposite The Masters on CBS Saturday afternoon. The Masters drew 5.184 million viewers. UFC on ABC2 drew a respectable 859,000 viewers with a main event of Kevin Holland-Marvin Vettori.
The promotion did not air again on ABC after its first two telecasts as the company returned to ESPN. Notwithstanding its time on ABC, the UFC has flourished on ESPN with positive ratings for most of its prelims or Fight Nights on the network.
The UFC on ABC events did not have big name (sorry Max) or fight to center around like the promotion’s debut on Fox, but it still provided entertaining fights. The company had hoped that UFC 267 would have aired on ABC, but that did not go through.
Will the UFC return on ABC? It would be a possibility as a competitor to a bigger event on the other networks to test how it would do and a chance to expose more casuals to the sport.
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