Say what you will about Bellator president Scott Coker putting together a line up with a bout between two former street fighters and a main event with a quinquagenarian, but the viewers responded in a big way.
Bellator 149 averaged a record-setting two million viewers for the entire three-hour fight card last Friday night (Feb. 19, 2016), peaking with Kimbo Slice vs. DaDa 5000 (2.5 million viewers) while pulling a 2.3 rating with men 18-34.
The main event between Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock (watch it) drew 2.4 million viewers.
The prior high-water mark was previously set at Bellator 138 in November of last year, where 1,560,000 tuned in to watch Shamrock get knocked out by Slice in the opening round. That main event peaked at 2.3 million viewers.
Bellator 149 became the third most-watched mixed martial arts (MMA) program in the last few years.
The top spot belongs to the UFC Fight Night card headlined by Conor McGregor and Dennis Siver in January of 2015 pulled 2,750,000 viewers. Second place belongs to the UFC Fight Night card headlined by Dominck Cruz and TJ Dillashaw, which averaged 2,288,000 viewers.
DaDa 5000, meanwhile, paid a hefty price for his knockout loss (replay here), but appears to be on the mend and will be headed home in a few days.
For more Bellator 149 fallout click here.