Versus Broadcast of UFC Live 4 Nets 744,000 Viewers

Headlined by a heavyweight main event between kickboxers Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry, the event emanated from Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

The show’s viewership figure represents a rebound from UFC Live 3, which earned a series-low 681,000 viewers in March. However, a Spike TV replay of UFC Fight Night 22 in the same time slot outdrew Sunday’s live event with an average of 793,000 viewers.

UFC Live 4’s main event was supposed to showcase former middleweight contender Nate Marquardt’s first fight at 170 pounds. However, Marquardt withdrew from the bout only one day prior to the show, prompting the UFC to promote the Kongo-Barry scrap to the headlining attraction. Filling in for Marquardt against Rick Story was AMA Fight Club representative Charlie Brenneman, who used his wrestling base to control Story en route to an upset decision victory.

The new main event proved thrilling, as Barry nearly finished Kongo early after landing a dynamite right hook. However, the Frenchman proved resilient and staved off a referee stoppage before recovering his vertical base. With his back against the cage, Kongo landed a crushing uppercut to Barry’s jaw and relieved the Roufusport fighter of his consciousness, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to stop the fight at 2:39 of the first frame.