This past weekend's UFC on FUEL TV 2 event averaged 197,000 viewers, MMAjunkie.com (
UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) today confirmed with industry sources.
That's similar to February's debut UFC on FUEL TV 1 event, which averaged 217,000 FUEL TV viewers. It also beat the two UFC on FX preliminary-card broadcasts this year on FUEL TV, which have averaged 130,500 viewers.
UFC on FUEL TV 2 took place this past Saturday, April 14, at Stockholm's Ericsson Globe Arena.
The event, which marked the UFC's debut in Sweden, featured Swedish light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson defeating Thiago Silva in the main event.
Due to the time difference with the overseas host site, UFC on FUEL TV 2's televised main card aired in the afternoon at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) in the U.S., six to seven hours ahead of usual start times. Prelims kicked off on Facebook at 12:30 p.m. PT.
UFC on FUEL TV 2, which was the UFC's first event in 43 days, should be fairly good news for the UFC and FOX-owned FUEL TV. February's UFC on FUEL TV 1 event set an all-time prime-time ratings records for the cable channel with its 217,000 viewers. It also produced the most-watched day in FUEL TV history.
The UFC recently moved much of its live-event programming from Spike TV to FX and FUEL TV thanks to its seven-year deal with FOX. Although currently cable TV's lowest-rated cable station (among those big enough to garner ratings information), FUEL TV has increased from approximately 30 million homes to 36 million in the past few months due in large part to the new UFC programming. The UFC's former home, Spike TV, is available in approximately 100 million homes.
In addition to Gustaffson, UFC on FUEL TV 2's six-bout main card also saw wins from Brian Stann, Siyar Bahadurzada, Dennis Siver, John Maguire and Brad Pickett.
The all-time UFC-FUEL TV event ratings include:
UFC on FUEL TV 1 ratings (main card): 217,000 viewers
UFC on FUEL TV 2 ratings (main card): 197,000
UFC on FX 1 ratings (prelims): 148,000
UFC on FX 2 ratings (prelims): 113,000
