UFC on FOX 16 ratings: 'Dillashaw vs. Barao 2' averages 2.8 million viewers

Last Saturday night's (July 25, 2015) UFC on FOX 16 card, which featured T.J. Dillashaw successfully defending his UFC bantamweight title against Renan Barao, drew a 1.7 rating and was the highest-watched sports event of the day (highlights).

According to FOX Sports, the four-fight main card that took place at United Center in Chicago, Ill., averaged 2.8 million viewers from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET. Those numbers were a 13-percent increase from last July's UFC on FOX card, which drew a 1.5 rating and averaged 2.5 million viewers.

The card reached its peak during the main event between Dillashaw and Barao with 3.8 million viewers and a 2.4 rating. The co-main event of the evening, a unanimous decision victory for Miesha Tate over Jessica Eye in a women's bantamweight battle, drew a 2.0 rating.

The card increased steadily as the opening fight on the main card between Joe Lauzon and Takanori Gomi drew a 1.3 rating, and the "Fight of the Night" between Paul Felder and Edson Barboza followed that up with a 1.6.

UFC on FOX 16 also finished in first place on Saturday among the other broadcast networks in two key demographics: men 18-49, and adults 18-49.

Earlier in the evening, the UFC on FOX 16 prelims (recap), which aired on FOX between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, and was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Tom Lawlor and Gian Villante, averaged 1.3 million viewers for a rating of 0.9.

For complete results from UFC on FOX 16, as well as recaps, videos, and more, hit up our full "Dillashaw vs. Barao 2" story stream here.