The UFC is trending towards a boom year after a lull.

[Ilovepizza]

I believe the fighters are becoming more aware of this stuff jeopardizing their health and opportunities. Some big names like Yoel and Luke announced they're going to move up and DC having success up a weight class is going to start a trend. The only fight I'd worry about is Khabib not making weight.

LHW is trash and thats why they are moving up.

LHW is so bad that it makes HW look good... thats how bad LHW is.

LOL

 

[FrankieNYC]

It needs to be said, UFC is going to ESPN at their worst. FS1 is actually gaining ground. But ESPN has helped boxing out a ton.

• ESPN’s 2017 Prime-Time and Total-Day Audiences Rise vs. 2016
• ESPN Leads Cable Nets in Q4 Prime-Time Viewership for 18th Time in 19 Years
• ESPN Has Led Cable for Key Male Demos for 18 Straight Quarters

ESPN’s 2017 viewership in prime time and in total day rose vs. 2016, while the network returned to its familiar spot atop cable networks in fourth quarter prime-time viewership and continued its streak of leading full-time cable networks in the key male demos to 18 consecutive quarters (4.5 years).

• In 2017, ESPN averaged 2,058,000 viewers (P2+) in prime time across TV and streaming, an increase of 7% over 2016. ESPN grew its audience among men and adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.
• ESPN also saw its total day viewership rise 1%.
• In the fourth quarter, ESPN grew its audience 13% in prime to 3,052,000 viewers across TV and streaming, the best on cable, as it had accomplished from 1999 – 2015 before the aberration of last year’s political climate pushed ESPN to second place (behind Fox News). Audiences also rose by a double-digit percentage among men and adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. ESPN’s total day viewership rose 9%.
• In addition, the recently completed quarter was the 18th straight in which ESPN led full-time cable networks in delivering the key male demographic groups advertisers covert: men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.