SPIKE TV sets company record as a high of 6.1 million viewers tuned in last night to watch Kimbo Slice and Roy Nelson fight.
Featuring a fight between contestants Kimbo Slice and Roy Nelson, the telecast ranks as the most-watched episode of an original series in the six-year history of the channel* and the most-watched program of any kind in Men 18-34 and Men 18-49.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” was clearly the top-rated program on television on Wednesday with men in all key demographics including Men 18-34, M18-49, M18-24, and M25-34. It also was the most watched program among Persons 18-34 with a 4.7 rating (2.7 million), illustrating co-viewing among young men and women.
The episode also drew more Men 18-34 than anything else on television this week thus far, except Monday Night Football on ESPN. Also of note, only seven series in all of television this fall season drew more men 18-34, despite “The Ultimate Fighter” being in its tenth season.
Overall, the record-breaking telecast drew a 6.9 in Men 18-34 (2 million), a 5.4 in M18-49 (3.1 million), a household rating of 3.7 and 5.3 million total viewers.
The 6.1 million viewership peak at 9:45pm for the Kimbo Slice- Roy Nelson fight trumps any UFC programming ever on Spike TV. The previous mark was 5.9 million viewers for Rampage Jackson-Dan Henderson fight at UFC 75 in September, 2007. Also, the repeat at 11:00pm drew an impressive 1.5 million viewers. Thus, the combined audience of both telecasts reached 6.8 million viewers.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” features former UFC light heavyweight champions “Suga” Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as coaches and is the only installment in the show’s history to include only the heavyweight weight class (206+ lbs). The cast includes a list of notable athletes with impressive and diverse pedigrees including four former NFL players, UFC veterans, a former IFL heavyweight champ and a highly-publicized former EliteXC fighter, Kimbo Slice, who gained prominence through his non-sanctioned bouts on YouTube.
*the previous record was 4.1 million viewers for the premiere of “The Ultimate Fighters: Heavyweights” was set September 16, 2009.
Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
When I do watch TUF, I usually just tune in for the fight, but I have seen a few minutes of the heavyweights, and I have to say that it’s been refreshing, at least for an old guy like me, to see grown men in the house who are more involved in trying to make it as a pro fighter than all the juvenile baloney that goes on with the younger guys. No pissing in the fruit, no drunken brawling, none of that insecure childish bull…
Personally, I enjoyed the Nelson/Kimbo fight, even though it went pretty much as most of us thought it would. We’re still watching TUF, and these guys (except Nelson) are pretty much up and comers, not top level elite level competitors. Nelson did a good job maintaining his composure and applying the technique he knew would win the fight for him. Kimbo had his moments, but failed where most of us thought he would, on the ground. Maybe we’ll get a chance to see him again, and maybe he’ll get a chance to add to his repertoire of skills and progress as a potential MMA pro.
He’s been training with american top team since the show ended so im sure he’s got a good amount of mat time. I only watch the fight at the end i don’t get home in time to see the training and what they do in the house parts
mu shin i like how grown up and respectful the fighters are and really there to improve there games,help each other and try and make a career in mma not do some crazy pranks on tv.i enjoyed all the fights so far,the first was just pure class wrestling dominance,2nd fight shows how strong a big football player is but big guys like that gas quick.3rd fight shows muscles arent everything.
I agree with all of U guys…it’s nice not to see the “junie Browning” experiment happening on this seasons TUF.
This is the most most respectful season yet and thats how i know everyone on this season weather they stay in the ufc or go to strikefarce will have a solid career.
Yeah Rage, although there are some rough spots and work needs to be done with some of these fighters…if they put in the work, they should have a solid shot at being on the main roster for both MMA organizations. Is is me or does this season seem to be one for the “Older” mma fighters…maybe that’s why there is a more serious vibe on TUF10.