UFC on FOX: Dana White expects to shatter the record for most viewed MMA fight in television history

by Geno Mrosko on Sep 3, 2011 3:00 PM EDT in UFC News

Photo by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Believe it or not, Kimbo Slice is the measuring stick in mixed martial arts (MMA). No, not the fighting itself, but rather the ratings it can garner when exposed to a wide audience.

Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, headlined the first major event held on network television when he squared off against James Thompson for EliteEX on May 31, 2008.

That show brought in an average of 6.12 million viewers and peaked at 6.51 million for the main event.

Kimbo being the ratings draw that he is managed to do five million viewers for the episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 in which he fought Roy Nelson. With the UFC marketing machine behind him, he nearly outdrew himself on cable.

Now imagine how many people would tune into a UFC promoted bout on one of the biggest network television channels that featured the two best heavyweights in the entire sport fighting for the division championship.

Executives at FOX Sports are hesitant to make any bold predictions but that's what Dana White is doing and on top of seeing dollar signs, he envisions they are going to blow Kimbo's numbers out of the water.

"One of my golden rules is never predict ratings because it's a zero sum game," remarked David Hill, Chairman of FOX Sports. "If I was a betting man, which I am, I'd probably put a couple of bucks on the fact that we will (do better than Kimbo vs. Thompson)."

Modest but confident, as one would expect from such a successful man. Dana White, on the other hand, was his usual brash self in assessing the situation.

"I'm not going to be too cocky here and trump what David Hill said, but I'll tell you right now, I'm expecting to blow that number out of the water," he commented.

Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight championship against Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson and Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson.

Who wins in the ratings? And what's your best guess as to how many viewers will tune into UFC on FOX 1 on Sat., Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. ET?

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Comments

Will we able to see this in the UK?

ESPN? FX? Some other channel ?

Resist Much, Obey Little.

by Reedy on Sep 3, 2011 3:07 PM EDT reply actions

White said they will make sure to "take care of the UK fans."

So I assume you will have a viewing option.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Sep 3, 2011 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Free stream on UFC.tv and crappy channel on sky then

If they have any sense they’ll do a deal with Sky, sooner the UFC gets off ESPN and signs a deal with Sky the better.

Anderson Silva is the P4P GOAT
31-4 (14-0 UFC), 9 successful title defences, 10 championship wins
The numbers don't lie

by David W-S on Sep 3, 2011 4:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

Don't trip mate U guys will get 2 see it the day after every1 else watches it.

I’m sure mania will give U live updates =D. I’ll just be driving 15 minutes 2 the Honda center 2 see it live ;)

No escaping pain
You belong to me
Clinging on to life
By the skin o' my teeth

by d*locc on Sep 3, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

turn the tables.

the rotten toofed bastards get to see all the events for free now. make the anti-dentist chair honkeys pay for it.

Proud owner of dead last place in 2 of 4 money pool events. Bow down, peasants.

by arm.bar.bandit on Sep 3, 2011 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions

UFC >>>>>>>> Kimbo

When a Texan decides to take his chances, you know chances will be taken.

by P-Dub on Sep 3, 2011 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

ya think?

"What are you gonna do, hit him? No, that's a terrible idea, I'll tell you why.. it doesn't unbang your mom. "

by 10thDegreeWhiteBelt on Sep 3, 2011 4:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cain will shatter those records in Cali alone.

All aboard the Cain train 2 the promised land ! Choo choo!!!

No escaping pain
You belong to me
Clinging on to life
By the skin o' my teeth

by d*locc on Sep 3, 2011 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The only issue is....

Those Kimbo fights were small shows. People wanted to watch them, but it wasn’t worth getting a whole gang together to see them, so everybody watched them by themselves at home, increasing the number of TVs set to those channels. With the Paquiao fight happening the same night, people will be getting together at friend’s houses or bars showing the fight so there won’t be as many different TVs tuning in. Thus decreasing the perceived number of viewers.

At least I would think.

You mind your own damn business.

by jestermarcus on Sep 3, 2011 3:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Not a bad point.

Prediction for the final number? 7 million viewers? More? Less?

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Sep 3, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

7 would be great.

But any number I how out would be straight outta my butt, I don’t have a clue.

You mind your own damn business.

by jestermarcus on Sep 3, 2011 3:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

8.5

"Remember men, we are all winners in the eyes of Christ...except for the guy still bleeding on the canvass"

by Jrandolph on Sep 4, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

When you get a Neilson card, you log in everything that you watch. It is per person in the household, not the specific TV. At least that was how it worked for me when we did it a year ago.

by jebmak on Sep 5, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

One thing will be shattered.

And that will be Cain’s face. Well to be honest I have no clue who will win this fight and both are so good. But, I’m rooting for JDS because I been a fan from the first time i saw him fight. Personally I never thought we would get this fight for free because I expected a huge free fight, not a huge PPV level free fight.

"Sakuraba beats Silva majority of the time IMO" - "striker" David Emerson

by guyverbob on Sep 3, 2011 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I got Cain

By destruction. I think he’s going to hold the belt for a while

Danago should be banned from mmamania

by COOLKALE91 on Sep 3, 2011 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

If he gets by JDS I could see him holding it for a while.

"Sakuraba beats Silva majority of the time IMO" - "striker" David Emerson

by guyverbob on Sep 3, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

For sure

I think JDS is the number 2 heavyweight and will be for a while but I think Cain is just on another level

Danago should be banned from mmamania

by COOLKALE91 on Sep 3, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by wooly shambler on Sep 3, 2011 4:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

JDS via TKO

"What are you gonna do, hit him? No, that's a terrible idea, I'll tell you why.. it doesn't unbang your mom. "

by 10thDegreeWhiteBelt on Sep 3, 2011 4:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Possible

But I don’t see it

Danago should be banned from mmamania

by COOLKALE91 on Sep 3, 2011 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

This fight is sooooo close

…If Cain can’t get JDS down consistently, we’re going to see a new HW champion….Cain does get hit during exchanges and JDS isn’t the type of fighter you want to get clean shots on your face…but Cain mixes up everything quite well so maybe the different looks will keep JDS at bay, I don’t know….faaaaack. Cain better pull it out because I have money riding on him!

Fedor "The Can Crusher" Emeilianko IS NOT THE BEST HW EVER , in fact he sucks! he has the most padded record in the history of any combat sport, scratch that in the history of any sport. He has not changed as a fighter , he is still just as good as he was then, only difference is he isn’t fighting freaks and nobodies, I , along with many others have been duped into believing he is great, when clearly he is NOT! -I hate you the Dragon...one day

Does anyone know when Thiago Silva is eligible to fight again? I kind of miss that guy........

by Starr788 on Sep 3, 2011 4:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

come on guyver, you can't be serious.

JDS overrated legacy will be shattered as quickly as your rectum got shattered in junior high.

Proud owner of dead last place in 2 of 4 money pool events. Bow down, peasants.

by arm.bar.bandit on Sep 3, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on.

That was weak compared to the usual stuff you say.

"Sakuraba beats Silva majority of the time IMO" - "striker" David Emerson

by guyverbob on Sep 3, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I think JDS has this actually

Cain is good but he will have been off for over a year and I actually think JDS is the hungriest mofo around right now. Should be a great fight if Cain has the balls to stand and trade instead of leg hump JDS. If he does though we will at least finally get to see JDS ground game.

I don't know how Anderson Silva can even walk around right now with all the nuthuggers out there. Can't wait til Chael fucks him up in their next fight. Hopefully he goes over and slaps ed "open mouth" soares afterwards as well.

by MichaelD8 on Sep 3, 2011 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup. He's gonna be the Fedor of our era

by mthom on Sep 3, 2011 5:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

12.5 mil

is my guess.

by shogunBJ on Sep 3, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

I don't wanna sound cocky

But we’re gonna have the biggest views of the nigh. Fuck you Bob Arum! And Fuck you too Elite XC!

Lol but srs though, I hope they have HUGE ratings.

by pbdb on Sep 3, 2011 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, its just a great thing for a sport obviously.

Despite the back forth of whose gonna get knocked out, every single person in america that has any idea of what MMA is should tune in because it is helping the hell out of the sport.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

by redfox54 on Sep 3, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm sure they will

I’m still nervous about how this is gonna turn out though

by pbdb on Sep 3, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know if this event will do better than Pacman

…I’ve watched a Pacman fight at both a bar and a house party and both shared a common element…there were tons of Pilipinos!!!! I mean tons….they love them some Pacman

Does anyone know when Thiago Silva is eligible to fight again? I kind of miss that guy........

by Starr788 on Sep 3, 2011 4:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Dude, I love the pac man

The UFC doesn’t have to do better than his fight, just all the other boring ones on the boxing card.

by pbdb on Sep 3, 2011 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Cain looks scared in this pic

That, or he just smelled one of JDS’ spicy brazilian fartbombs…..either way, JDS takes this fight.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."