UFC 138 Nets 1.8 Million Viewers with Delayed Spike Broadcast

Spike officials announced the figure on Tuesday, also confirming that the telecast posted a 1.2 household rating, as well as ratings of 1.54 and 1.71 in the Male 18-49 and 18-34 demographics, respectively.

Headlined by an exciting middleweight scrap between Mark Munoz and Chris Leben, the event emanated from LG Arena in Birmingham, England. While the prelims were streamed live on Facebook, the evening’s main draw was broadcast on Spike via tape delay.

According to network officials, the three-hour broadcast ranked first among males 18-49 and 18-34 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The telecast peaked during the program’s final quarter-hour, earning over 2.1 million viewers during the main event.

Competing in the UFC’s inaugural non-title main event scheduled for five rounds, Munoz and Leben did not disappoint, though they would not come close to reaching the 25-minute time limit. Munoz showed his quickness and wrestling advantages early, but the wily Leben hung tough. In the second frame, however, Munoz grounded Leben and lacerated him over his left eye. The Oregon native could not answer the call for round three as a result of the cut, and Munoz was awarded a second-round technical knockout.