UFC 148 Drives FX Prelims to Record TV Ratings

UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II was easily the most anticipated fight card of the year, if not one of the most anticipated in the history of the UFC.

The early numbers certainly bolster that statement. The event sold out, according to UFC president Dana White, with more than 15,000 fans in attendance producing a live gate of more than $7 million.

The strength of the main event filtered down to the preliminary bouts as well, as the UFC 148 Prelims TV ratings on FX registered 1.8 million viewers over its two-hour telecast, a record number of viewers for UFC preliminary bouts on FX. The previous prelims best on FX was UFC 145, which drew 1.6 million viewers.

The average of the preliminary telecasts on the network is 1.35 million per event over the course of seven events since the UFC and Fox partnership began in January.

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