Less than a month after its Telemundo debut, the action-packed “Copa Combate” tournament in Cancun, Mexico, Combate Americas — the world’s premiere Hispanic-based combat sports promotion — returned to the Spanish-Language network with a stacked mixed martial arts (MMA) fight card in San Antonio.
Both telecasts delivered a ratings knockout.
The Nov. 11 broadcast of “Copa Combate” delivered an average of 280,000 total viewers, 137,000 adults 18-49 and 70,000 adults 18-34. The show increased the network's 18-34 audience in that time slot by 30 percent, and by 10 percent among adults 18-49, compared to the four prior Saturdays.
The subsequent "Combate 19: Queen Warriors” on Dec. 1 returned an average of 293,000 total viewers, 156,000 adults 18-49 and 73,000 adults 18-34. Not too shabby considering its midnight start time, but the biggest takeaway is the promotion's ability to grab the two largest audiences for MMA shows in the summer and fall of 2017, on Spanish-language television in the U.S.
"We are delighted with the incredible ratings and viewership that the first two live MMA events in Telemundo history generated," said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.
Copa Combate featured the one-night, eight-man bantamweight tournament that saw betting underdog Levy Marroquin (11-2) of Monterrey, Mexico, defeat three consecutive opponents to earn the $100,000 tournament grand prize. Combate 19, meanwhile, saw atomweight sensation Kyra Batara continue her dominance in “La Jaula” at the expense of Paulina Granados.
“We are encouraged by the strong viewership the two broadcasts of Combate Americas delivered and look forward to working with the franchise again in the near future, and continue growing Telemundo’s MMA offering,” Ray Warren, president of Telemundo Deportes said.
For much more on Combate Americas click here.