Though that's just a preliminary number, and could fluctuate as more info is gleaned in the next couple of weeks, it marks the lowest number a UFC pay-per-view has done since 2005, the year the UFC exploded with The Ultimate Fighter.
That number is down significantly from the first fight between the two, which drew 375,000 buys in February. That event was the UFC's first event in Japan under Zuffa, and also featured Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in his first fight after losing to Jon Jones for the Title last September.
Penick's Analysis: There are a number of factors that went into such a low figure. This was the fourth pay-per-view event in a seven week stretch for the UFC, and the buzz for the card was very low for some time. Though on paper it looked like a decently strong event, it was a fight that fans weren't really demanding after February, and though it was a good first fight, it wasn't an instant classic that was going to bring fans in droves for the second one. Another issue was the fact that there were problems with DirecTV in ordering the event. Some customers experienced no issues, but if you tried to order online or by phone, their systems were having issues and weren't allowing that live. That kept a segment of would-be purchasers from being able to do so. But this card didn't have any other big names to support the title fight, and Henderson and Edgar are not yet major stars who will garner big numbers every time they're out. That's why putting Henderson's next fight against Nate Diaz on Fox is the right move, especially after Saturday's tedious fight with Edgar.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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