The Ultimate Fighter season 22 (TUF 22) special two-hour premiere aired Wednesday night on Fox Sports 1 and delivered the most-watched season debut since Fall 2013 when Ronda Rousey coached opposite Miesha Tate on season 18. The TUF 22 premiere showcased 16 bouts between UFC hopefuls competing for a spot in the TUF house where they will join one of two teams coached by Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber.
The TUF 22 premiere peaked with 745,000 viewers and posted an average of 622,000 viewers during the first broadcast, with an additional 66,000 viewers tuning in during the encore presentation later in the evening. It was Fox Sports 1’s most-watched show on Wednesday.
The Ultimate Fighter season 22 premiere’s viewership was up +27% over The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians (TUF 21) launch back in April which brought in 490,000 viewers, and is up +16% from the TUF 20 premiere (A Champion Will Be Crowned) in Sept. 2014 which peaked with 536,000 viewers.
The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber broadcasts Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. The TUF 22 season finale is set for Friday, Dec. 11, and will feature former lightweight champ and No. 2 ranked featherweight Frankie Edgar taking on No. 3 ranked featherweight Chad Mendes.