The Conor Effect? UFC Fight Night 59 gets record-breaking MMA ratings for FOX Sports

"According to FOX, Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 59 card was FOX Sports 1’s most-watched MMA event yet and the most-watched on cable since the UFC’s TUF 10 Finale in December 2009.

UFC Fight Night 59 was headlined by McGregor (17-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and his second-round TKO of Dennis Siver (22-10 MMA, 11-7 UFC), which earned him a featherweight title shot against champion Jose Aldo. The brash Irishman promised many things, from first-round finishes to record-breaking gates and TV numbers.

The event took place at TD Garden in Boston, with a heavily Irish crowd in attendance to support Dublin native McGregor and two of his teammates, Cathal Pendred and Patrick Holohan, who picked up wins on the preliminary card.

The main card peaked in the final 15 minutes of the live broadcast, during the main event between midnight and 12:15 a.m. ET, with 3.162 million viewers. The average viewership was 2.751 million, according to the Nielsen ratings."

source : http://mmajunkie.com/2015/01/the-co...-record-breaking-mma-ratings-for-fox-sports-1

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GOAT !

 

Unfortunate that trash talking and fake feuds have become the most important aspect of MMA as a business.

 

It had a little to do with the McGregor hype.

It had a lot to do with an NFC/AFC Championship block on directly before the main card. People were drinking, having fun, and wanted to keep watching sports. Very smart move by Zuffa.

 

Tank him

 

Tank Conor for saving MMA.

 

Yes, it's very unfortunate that a charismatic fighter is bringing attention to the lately stagnant sport of MMA.

 

Can't disagree.

UFC has been upping their game the last couple of months. They're serious about not having a trash fiscal year like 2014 was.

 

He sure does move the needle.

 

It's phony BS and it's deciding who gets title shots and bigger paychecks.

 

It was the Cowboy/Henderson fight that drew people to that card. Its too bad they didn't make it 5 rounds.

 

lol, no. it peaked during Conor's fight. hours after the game was over, on a channel that the game wasnt on.

 

again, no.

 

Seriously? I'm not saying this guy is the "GOAT" or anything, but to dismiss the fact that people weren't watching the guy the UFC hyped all over the Fox family of networks is pretty ridiculous.

 

dude is in every McGregor thread naysaying

 

The guy is no where near GOAT but its good he's pulling numbers. He acts like an enraged 10 year old and I don't like him but have to say good job.

 

UFC is dying. Clearly Dana cooked the books by buying 2 millions TVs.

 

Who, Michael Scott? Or me? I assure you I'm not in every McGregor thread. Some of the more preposterous ones, yes.

 

Conor is bringing in the numbers and maybe one day he will claim GOAT status on promoting

 

Following prize fighting at all the past 100+ years?

Even if you have only ever watched the ufc, was it better when Kimbo was setting TV ratings ? How about when a reality show was central to booking before that ?