Nielsen Media Research shows UFC ON FUEL TV 10: NOGUEIRA VS. WERDUM, which aired on Saturday, June 8, was not only the highest-rated FUEL TV event to date, but also its most-watched prime time event ever. It was also the second most-watched live UFC fight in their history for both total viewers and in the key Men 18-49 demographic. As if we did not already know that the majority of fight fans were raging, hormonal brute beasts. And, who could resist the fight when the card had such epic moments as number three ranked heavyweight Fabricio Werdum submitting former heavyweight champ Minotauro Nogueira?
“The performance of UFC ON FUEL TV 10 shows how the UFC, the world’s fastest growing sport, delivers strong audiences for FOX Sports,” says Patrick Crakes, Senior Vice President, Programming and Research, FOX Sports Media Group. “We’re excited about the continued ability of the UFC to provide great ratings in the key male demos as we head towards the launch of FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network, on August 17.”
Prime time, which consisted of the one-hour live pre-fight Show and the three-hour main card, averaged 250,000 total viewers and a 0.51 HH rating, up +468% and +538% respectively vs. the June 2012 Saturday average.
UFC ON FUEL TV 10 aired from 8:00 PM ET – 11:19 p.m. ET and averaged 313,000 viewers, ranking second all-time for a live fight event behind UFC ON FUEL TV 8: SILVA VS. STANN on March 2, 2013 (485,000 viewers). The audience peaked from 9:45 p.m. ET to 10:00 PM ET with 399,000 viewers.
Moreover, UFC ON FUEL TV 10 was the second most-watched and second highest-rated show ever in M18-49, with 183,000 viewers and a 0.88 rating.
On Saturday, June 8, FUEL TV averaged 87,000 viewers, making it the second-most watched day in network history behind the record set on March 2, 2013 (131,000 viewers). It was up +129% vs. the June 2012 Saturday average.
The live, action-filled three-hour program on Saturday was the tenth UFC fight telecast on FUEL TV. UFC coverage continues this coming weekend with the live weigh-in and post-fight shows for UFC 161: EVANS VS. HENDERSON.