TV Ratings: UFC on FOX 4 comes in second after 2012 Olympic Games on Saturday night

After what many felt was a disappointing show at UFC 149, the world’s no. 1 mixed martial arts promotion returned with a fantastic night of fights at UFC on Fox 4. The UFC came second in Saturday’s TV ratings, losing out to none other then the 2012 Olympic Games.

Figures for Saturday nights ratings were released by TvbytheNumbers.com and revealed that between approximately 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. the 2012 Olympic Games topped the list with a 27 percent share of U.S. adults aged 18-49. Although they grabbed second place, the UFC came in well behind with only a 4 percent share.

Between approximately 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. the UFC started with 1.91 million live viewers, later rising to 2.26 million after increasing viewership throughout the night’s fights. This incremental increase in viewers suggests the exciting fights caught the attention of channel surfers. Comparatively, the Olympics started with 19.77 million viewers, later rising to 28.01 million.

Coming in second to the Olympics is expected and is nothing to be frowned upon. More importantly, the UFC finally delivered a card on FOX that provided a true representation of the excitement and entertainment value the company and its fighters are known for.  Here’s a complete breakdown of the night’s numbers:

Note: These are the “fast” overnight ratings. Because it was a live event, these numbers will likely need adjustment as the final numbers roll in.