The latest edition of the UFC on FOX was the strongest-performing in years.
UFC on FOX 22, featuring Paige VanZant against Michelle Waterson, had a 1.8 final rating and 3.2 million viewers last Saturday night — up 13% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last December (1.6, 2.871M) and up 13% and 15%, respectively, from December 2014 (1.6, 2.774M).
The telecast, which peaked with 4.8 million viewers from 10-10:15 PM ET, was the most-watched edition of UFC on FOX in more than three years, since coverage in April 2013 (3.7M). It also tied the highest rating for the series since January 2014 (1.9).
The two highest rated and most-watched UFC on FOX windows this year were headlined by a women’s bout, with Holly Holm‘s loss to Valentina Shevchenko in UFC on FOX 20 scoring a 1.8 and 3.0 million over the summer.
Saturday’s telecast was helped by far weaker NFL competition than last year. The competing Dolphins/Jets game on NFL Network had a 2.5 and 4.4 million, compared to a 4.3 and 7.4 million for Jets/Cowboys a year ago.
In adults 18-49, UFC on FOX scored a 1.1 rating — tied with four other telecasts as the highest for the series since January 2015 (1.2).
(Wknd. numbers via Fox Sports Press Pass 12/22, ShowBuzz Daily 12/20a, 12/20b)
