TUF 17 Finale prelims deliver FUEL TV's most-watched UFC ‘Prelims,' second most-watched show ever

LOS ANGELES - The Ultimate Fighter® set new records on FUEL TV. THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER FINALE PRELIMS ON FUEL TV live on Saturday, April 13, delivered the network's most-watched and highest rated UFC prelims of all time, with 269,000 total viewers, a 0.56 HH rating, and a 0.80 M18-49 rating. In addition, the show was FUEL TV's second most-watched and second highest-rated program of all time. The audience peaked from 8:30 PM ET - 8:45 PM ET with 347,000 total viewers and 209,000 M18-49 viewers, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. The live, action-filled three-hour program on Saturday evening was the 13th UFC prelims telecast on FUEL TV.

Compared to the TUF 16 FINALE Prelims on Saturday, December 14, this show was up +180% on total viewers (269,000 vs. 96,000) and +225% among M18-49 (169,000 vs. 52,000).

The record viewership for the TUF 17 FINALE fueled Saturday night to become the network's fourth most-watched and fourth highest-rated prime time ever. Led by the live prelims, prime averaged 147,000 total viewers, up +220%, and a 0.43 M18-49 rating, up +291% in M18-49 compared to the April 2012 Saturday prime average.

Interest around the TUF 17 FINALE propelled the TUF 17 FINALE WEIGH-IN SHOW ON FUEL TV on Friday, April 12 (6:00 PM ET), to set records as well. Friday's live WEIGH-IN ranked first on M18-34 viewership and ratings among all live UFC Weigh-Ins on FUEL TV, and was ranked second on M18-49 viewership and ratings. The show averaged 126,000 total viewers, making it the third most-watched UFC WEIGH-IN in network history, up +200% on total viewers compared to the 2012 Live UFC Weigh-In average.

UFC coverage continues this coming weekend with the live Weigh-in and Postfight shows for FOX UFC SATURDAY.

The Ultimate Fighter® will move to FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports' newly minted multi-sport national cable channel, when it returns in September. The next installment, featuring UFC® women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Cat Zingano as coaches, also moves to Wednesday evening at 10:00 PM ET. FS1 launches Saturday, Aug. 17 and season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter® premieres Wednesday, Sept. 4 (10:00 PM ET).