Bellator 54, Middleweight Semifinals Earn 185,000 Viewers on MTV2

Sherdog.com confirmed the viewership figure with an industry source on Tuesday, who also revealed that the event’s immediate replay on the cable network netted an additional 115,000 observers.

The viewership numbers represent a significant increase from the Oct. 8 Bellator 53 telecast, which drew a series-low 103,000 viewers with its live broadcast.

Unlike the previous week, during which Bellator went head-to-head with UFC 136, Bellator 54 was not opposed by a UFC event on Saturday. Featuring the 185-pound tournament semifinals, the event emanated from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Alexander Shlemenko (Pictured) and Vitor Vianna both punched tickets to the tournament final, as the middleweights finished Brian Rogers and Bryan Baker in their semifinal bouts. The evening’s main draw also showcased Bellator’s bantamweight champion, Zach Makovsky, who submitted Ryan Roberts in a non-title affair. Lightweight Jacob Kirwan opened the televised card with a unanimous decision victory over the previously unbeaten Rene Nazare.