UFC
UFC on Fox 2 final ratings in just under 4.7 million viewers, tied for 3rd most-watched event in U.S. MMA history (UPDATE)
Jan 31, 2012 - 6:00:57 PM UFC on Fox 2 final ratings in just under 4.7 million viewers, tied for 3rd most-watched event in U.S. MMA history (UPDATE)

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 broadcast didn't garner the same ratings that the UFC's network debut garnered in November, but it still registers as the third most-watched MMA event in the U.S. ever.

TVByTheNumbers.com has adjusted their initial overnight ratings, and the event averaged just under 4.7 million viewers for the two hour timeslot. According to an additional report from MMAJunkie.com adding in the extra 20 minute overrun, the event averaged that 4.7 million viewers, tying it with UFC 75 on Spike TV for the third most-watched MMA event ever in the U.S.

Above both of those was the EliteXC debut on CBS, which averaged 4.85 million viewers for the Kimbo Slice headlined event.

Saturday's broadcast, which featured three fights from the United Center in Chicago, Ill., scored a 3.21 in both key demographics of men 18-49 and men 18-34.

Penick's Analysis: They were probably hoping for a better number, and three relatively lackluster fights during the broadcast certainly didn't help things. Still, this was by far the most viewed network television broadcast of the night, and Saturday nights are not typically home to massive numbers. The UFC will need to figure out the right balance of major fights and exciting matchups for their Fox cards, but they will probably be consistently getting these types of numbers, with occasional bumps up depending on the fights put together.

[Updated with peak number and correction with EliteXC's numbers]

UPDATE #2: A new report from MMAJunkie.com has updated numbers from Fox Sports. The headlining bout between Phil Davis and Rashad Evans averaged 6.1 million viewers, meaning the peak number for the event will still come in somewhat higher than that. The opening bout between Demian Maia and Chris Weidman was seen by an average of four million viewers, while the co-main between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping averaged 4.9 million viewers.