Ratings for this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy" event averaged 420,000 viewers on Showtime, MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) today confirmed with industry sources.
The event took place at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. In the co-headliners, Luke Rockhold defeated Tim Kennedy to defend his middleweight title, and Nate Marquardt stopped Tyron Woodley to claim Strikeforce's vacant welterweight title.
The numbers are respectable considering a noticeable lack of buzz and publicity for the event, which was sandwiched between two major UFC pay-per-view events.
Strikeforce's previous three events in 2012 averaged 426,000 viewers. The season average now stands at 425,000 viewers. By comparison, Strikeforce's eight 2011 "Arena Series" events drew an average audience of 521,375 viewers on Showtime.
The Showtime ratings for Strikeforce "Arena Series" shows since 2011 include:
"Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva" (February 2011): 741,000 viewers
"Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" (June 2011): 624,000
"Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson" (July 2011): 571,000
"Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg" (January 2011): 561,000
"Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" (April 2011): 528,000
"Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey" (March 2012): 472,000
"Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" (May 2012): 463,000
"Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" (December 2011): 460,000
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy" (July 2012): 420,000
"Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson" (March 2011): 412,000
"Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" (January 2012): 344,000
"Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov" (September 2011): 274,000
Strikeforce and Showtime recently reached a new deal that calls for up to eight events this year. The prospects-driven Strikeforce Challengers event series has been phased out as part of the new deal
