The overnight ratings for UFC on FOX 5 are in and while not the final tally, already show improvement over the last two UFC on FOX outings. According to TVByTheNumbers.com, the event earned 3.41 million average viewers from 8-10 p.m. ET. The show earned a 1.6 rating in adults 18 to 49 years of age. The event pulled a 5 share overall.
FOX won the night with young adults while CBS accrued more total viewers.
These numbers, however, are only preliminary measurements. There are two key considerations that could significantly effect the final figures. The above measurement only covers 8 to 10 p.m. ET, which means the first three fights. The main event and its five-round length is sure to add to the final total.
UFC on FOX 5 was headlined by a UFC lightweight title bout between Ben Henderson and Nate Diaz. Henderson earned a unanimous decision victory for his efforts.
In addition, the average viewership figure from overnights does not take into account the live showing from the West coast.
These ratings are significantly better than the overnights for UFC on FOX 3, which earned only 2.25 million average viewers with their first count and 1.0 rating with a 4 share. UFC on FOX 4 pulled 2.36 million average viewers in overnights for the main event between Brandon Vera and Mauricio Rua.
For now, however, these numbers are still well short of the the 5.7 million viewers for UFC on FOX 1 and 4.37 million with 2.2 rating in adults 18 to 49 for UFC on FOX 2.