UFC on FOX ratings are in: was the show a success?

Last night's UFC on Fox show was a major success in the ratings.

The fast national numbers were 3.77 million viewers, and more important, a 1.8 in the overall 18-49 demo.  That would be more than double anything else on network TV in the demo during those two hours, although CBS won overall due to older viewership.

Keep in mind the fast nationals measure 8-10 p.m. ratings nationwide.  UFC is strongest on the West Coast, and this does not measure the UFC rating in many markets but what the local station aired in that time slot.  Some stations would have aired a UFC replay, but the live UFC was 5-7:15 p.m.  It also doesn't measure the fourth and fifth round of the main event.

The increase from this number is not likely to be as much as it was for Dec. 8 (which did a lower number on the fast nationals than this show on the fast nationals but ended up doing 4.39 million viewers), because the show didn't go as long after 10 p.m. The overall number should end up similar to Dec. 8, which is a huge success.

The key is the flyweights as headliners were strong enough to make it work, at least during football season.  That seems to be the key, that when UFC is promoted on FOX's football platforms, with the huge Males 18-49 viewership, it creates far more interest in the show than other times during the year.