UFC’s Ratings on Versus Improve, but Not Enough to Beat Spike TV UFC Reruns

The UFC reversed their ratings decline on Versus by drawing 744,000 viewers for UFC on Versus 4. Unfortunately it wasn't quite enough to beat Spike…

By: Nate Wilcox | 12 years ago
UFC’s Ratings on Versus Improve, but Not Enough to Beat Spike TV UFC Reruns
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

The UFC reversed their ratings decline on Versus by drawing 744,000 viewers for UFC on Versus 4. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough to beat Spike TV’s competing re-broadcast of UFC Fight Night 22 which drew 793,000 viewers. 

UFC on Versus 4 had originally been scheduled to feature Nate Marquardt in his welterweight debut against Rick Story. Everything got gummed up when Pennsylvania authorities declined to medically clear Marquardt due to his elevated testosterone levels from his testosterone replacement therapy. 

That complicated everyone’s plans — not least Spike TV which had thoughtfully booked an entire day of UFC counter-programming featuring Nate the Great. Nevertheless, nearly 800,000 viewers were more interested in seeing Marquardt’s old bout with Rousimar Palhares rather than Versus’ substitute main event — Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo.

As things turned out, the Barry-Kongo fight featured more action than a whole Marquardt marathon as the two heavyweights engaged in a back-and-forth brawl with an unbelievable ending. 

What this all means for the UFC’s ongoing efforts to land a new televsion deal I don’t really know. They managed to arrest their ratings decline on Versus — up from 681,000 for UFC on Versus 3. They didn’t manage match the first two installments, both of which featured current light heavyweight Jon Jones and came in around the million viewer mark.

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About the author
Nate Wilcox
Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is the founding editor of BloodyElbow.com. As such he has hired every editor and writer to work for the site. Wilcox’s writing for BE is known for its emphasis on MMA history, the evolution of fighting techniques and strong opinions. Wilcox developed the SBN MMA consensus rankings which were featured in USA Today from 2009 to 2011. Before founding BE, Wilcox was a political operative working for such figures as Senators John Kerry and Mark Warner and an early political blogger. He is the co-author of Netroots Rising, a history of the political blogosphere from 2003 to 2007. Wilcox also hosts the Let It Roll podcast on music history for the Pantheon Podcast Network.

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