Before last Saturday, the most viewers that any installment of the Fuel TV shows had drawn was 217,000 for the Sanchez vs. Ellenberger fight.
That high-mark was not only eclipsed by UFC on Fuel TV 8: Silva vs. Stann, it more than doubled.
MMAfighting.com reports that the ratings hauled in by the UFC’s latest show were strong, ending up at 485,000.
If the increase in digits was at all the result of new fans testing the waters, then the increase in viewership could mark the beginning of a trend, given how exciting UFC on Fuel TV 8 main event was. Much like anyone who became acquainted with MMA by watching Forrest Griffen vs. Stefan Bonnar was likely to be hooked, anyone introduced to the sport via Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann will almost certainly stick around for more.
That’s good news for the UFC, as ratings for the Fuel TV series have never been overwhelming, and have decreased rather than increased since its conception.
Both the pre and post-fight shows that bookcased UFC on Fuel TV 8 also pulled in higher numbers than any of their predecessors, the pre-fight program scoring 250,000 viewers, the post-fight show notching 219,000.
It will be interesting to see whether or not this momentum can be maintained, and whether or not it incentivizes the UFC to add high-profile matches to fights on Fuel TV.
Perhaps the eighth time will not only prove a charm, but also the turning point in the series that is often regarded as the lowest rung of UFC programming.
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