While it did not set any overall mixed martial arts records, Friday’s heavily hyped Bellator card performed well for the current climate. It was also the most-watched Bellator broadcast yet.
Headlined by Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock, Friday’s Bellator 138 averaged a 0.8 adults 18-49 rating with 1.58 million viewers from 9-12:02 PM.
Among adults 18-49, it ranked as the night’s #2 cable program.
In addition to outdrawing the 1.24 million viewership mark posted by Bellator 131 (Ortiz vs. Bonnar fight card), the latest Bellator also comfortably outdrew a pair of recent UFC telecasts. Airing on FS1, the 6/6 show drew a 0.5 with 0.95 million viewers. The 5/30 show was good for a 0.4 with 0.81 million.
Despite the comparative strength for 2015, the performance was a far cry from that delivered by Kimbo Slice’s early mixed martial arts cards.
Spike’s Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale, for instance, reached 3.7 million viewers in 2009. The card’s Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander fight reached a peak audience of 5.2 million.
