David Schwarz sent along the following:
Is the UFC more popular than boxing?
The most watched UFC fight so far in 2007 on Spike TV outdrew the most watched boxing match on television this year by 73%. Last year, the most watched UFC fight outdrew boxing’s most viewed event by 800,000 viewers. Details below:
2007:
SPIKE TV
UFC 70 — Mirko “Cro Cop” vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Saturday, April 21
2.8 million viewers
HBO
Ricky Hatton vs Juan Urango
Saturday, January 20
1.5 million viewers
2006:
SPIKE TV
Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock
October 10
4.3 million viewers
HBO
Winky Wright vs. Jermain Taylor
June 17
3.5 million viewers
About the UFC Fight Nights on Spike TV:
The UFC Fight Nights air live on Spike TV and feature many of the biggest names in the world of mixed martial arts. Thus far, UFC Fight Nights have averaged 2.2 million viewers — more than the average regular season telecasts of the NBA, NHL, and NCAA basketball on cable television. Spike TV is the proud television home to the best mixed martial arts programming on television with such popular shows as The Ultimate Fighter, UFC Unleashed, UFC Fight Night, UFC Countdown, and Ultimate Knockouts. Spike TV began airing UFC programming in January, 2005 and was the first television network in North America to air a live UFC bout.
DISCUSS THIS NEWS IN THE MMANEWS.COM FORUMS >>
