‘TUF 17’ Episode 2 Averages 1.27 Million Viewers in Tuesday Night Broadcast on FX

Sherdog.com recently confirmed the viewership figure with an industry source. The figure marks a slight decrease from the 1.5 million viewers who tuned in for the season premiere last week, which saw half the middleweight field sent home in the elimination round. The episode closed with coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen choosing their teams.

Episode two saw Team Sonnen’s Luke Barnatt take out Team Jones’ Gilbert Smith, despite Jones picking the matchup. Though the stocky Smith managed to navigate the Brit’s huge reach advantage numerous times, the Barnatt proved more than adequate in the wrestling department throughout the bout’s opening stanza.

The same would hold true in the second frame, until Smith telegraphed a shot and caught a flying knee that knocked him flat, advancing Barnatt to the next round and granting Team Sonnen control of the second fight pick. Next week’s episode will feature a violent knockout, according to UFC President Dana White, as Team Sonnen’s Uriah Hall meets Team Jones’ Adam Cella.