UFC 114's "UFC Prelims" broadcast draws 1.6 million viewers, up 33 percent from UFC 111

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After earning a series-low 1.2 million viewers for its UFC 111 broadcast, Spike TV's "UFC Prelims" broadcast for this past weekend's UFC 114 event increased 33 percent to 1.6 million viewers, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed with an industry source.

The two-fight May 29 broadcast, which featured Dong Hyun Kim vs. Amir Sadollah and Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon, qualifies as the second-highest ranked "UFC Prelims" episode in the history of the series, ranking only behind February's UFC 109 edition.

UFC 114 took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the "UFC Prelims" broadcast served as a teaser for the night's pay-per-view main card.

Overall, the broadcast drew a 1.1 household rating with a 1.6 among men 18-34 and a 1.55 among men 18-49.

The "UFC Prelims" broadcast ranked second among basic cable networks with men ages 18-34 and men age 18-49. TNT's coverage of the NBA playoffs edged out Spike TV for the No. 1 slot.

As is typical with many MMA broadcasts, the viewership increased as the night's "UFC Prelims" broadcast carried on. Spike TV netted 1.376 million viewers for the opening quarter-hour and topped out at 1.784 million for the final 15 minute block.

The UFC first offered a PPV teaser broadcast for UFC 103, when the UFC went head-to-head with a boxing PPV broadcast featuring Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. The specials proved effective enough at generating last-minute pay-per-view buys that officials from the UFC and the organization's longtime cable partner decided to make them a regular offering.

The full list of "UFC Prelims" broadcasts and ratings includes:

1.UFC 109 (February 2010): 1.7 million viewers
2.UFC 113 (May 2010): 1.6 million viewers
3.UFC 108 (January 2010): 1.5 million viewers
4.UFC 104 (October 2009): 1.4 million viewers
5.UFC 103 (September 2009): 1.4 million viewers
6.UFC 106 (November 2009): 1.3 million viewers
7.UFC 111 (March 2010): 1.2 million viewers
UFC 114's "UFC Prelims" broadcast was the fourth of 10 planned for 2010.

That is some big time numbers. Last weeks SD did 1.7 and it is on network TV.

I wouldn't expect UFC 115 to really do anything for the UFC, one of the weakest cards in recent memory.

^^Yeah, that should be a free card.

I believe Dana White is making a free card as him "making up" for Silva's performance last time. It's rumoured that Mitrione will be on it.

I read that too. I hope that the free card has more then Meat Head. I think he should make Shogun vs. Evans free...won't happen.

I want Anderson Silva on the free card. He talked about Silva being hard to market after the shit he pulled last time, so why not stick him on a free card where you don't expect him to be the main event guy pulling in the buys.

Yeah, I had that thought as well.