TV Ratings for UFC 147 Prelims on FX Fall Below the Series Norm

UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II drew a lot of criticism from fight fans outside of Brazil, decrying it as a lackluster fight card, and questioning its status as a pay-per-view event.

That criticism was reflected in the number of viewers that tuned in to the UFC 147 Prelims telecast on the FX network. The UFC 147 Prelims TV ratings, drawing an average audience of 969,000 according to industry sources, were the lowest for a preliminary bouts broadcast on FX since the first edition on the network, which was for UFC 142 in January.

Also emanating from Brazil, the UFC 142 Prelims drew an average audience of 880,000.

The UFC has become a huge success in Brazil, reportedly drawing more than 12 million viewers to its TUF: Brazil reality series and more than 20 million for UFC 147, which, not surprisingly, was heavily laden with Brazilian fighters.

Despite the lackluster ratings in the U.S., if accurate, the UFC will surely be pleased with the numbers they drew in Brazil, which dwarfed even the best of draws thus far in the States.

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