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EliteXC: Primetime, which marked the debut of live mixed martial arts on network television, was the most-watched MMA event in history, according to ratings released by CBS on Tuesday.
The landmark show drew an average of 4.9 million viewers during its two-hour, 51-minute telecast and spiked to 6.5 million between 11:30 p.m. and 11:51 p.m., when controversial Internet street-fighting icon Kimbo Slice battled Pride Fighting Championships veteran James Thompson. Ferguson (3-0) stopped the 6-foot-4 British behemoth on strikes in a controversial finish in the third round to remain unbeaten.
Those numbers surpass the previous highs set by the tape-delayed broadcast of UFC 75 in September 2007. That event captured an average of 4.7 million viewers and peaked at 5.6 million during the light heavyweight title match between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and two-time Olympian Dan Henderson.
In the 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. time slot, CBS ranked first with adults and males, second in households and viewers. EliteXC: Primetime, which also featured a bout between middleweight champion Robbie Lawler and UFC veteran Scott Smith, gained viewers each half hour it was on the air.
Even more promising was how it stacked up against previous programming on the network. Compared to regularly scheduled shows during the 2007-08 season, ratings were up 16 percent among 25- to 54-year-old adults, 57 percent among 18- to 49-year-old adults, 156 percent in 18- to 34-year-old adults, 121 percent among 25- to 54-year-old men, 173 percent among 18- to 49-year-old men and a staggering 357 percent in 18- to 34-year-old men.
The CBS Television Network and EliteXC parent company, ProElite Inc., announced in February a multi-year agreement to bring MMA to a major television network for the first time. CBS plans to broadcast four events per year in primetime on Saturday nights.
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