UFC 149 Prelims Pull 1 Million Viewers on FX; Bellator 72 Draws 193,000 to MTV2

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FX drew an average of 1 million viewers with its UFC 149 prelims special last Saturday, while Bellator 72 netted 193,000 viewers the night prior on MTV2.

Sherdog.com confirmed the figures Thursday with an industry source. The UFC 149 figure represents a downturn from the FX-high 1.8 million viewers set by the UFC 148 prelims on July 7. By contrast, the UFC 149 broadcast is trailed only by the UFC 147 and UFC 142 prelims, which attracted 969,000 and 880,000 viewers, respectively.

UFC 149 took place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, and showcased an interim bantamweight title headliner between Brazilian Renan Barao and onetime WEC featherweight ace Urijah Faber. Prior to the evening’s pay-per-view broadcast, the four-fight FX special saw Ryan Jimmo tie the official record for fastest knockout in promotional history, as the ex-MFC light heavyweight champ stopped Anthony Perosh in just seven seconds. Francisco Rivera and Bryan Caraway also posted impressive finishes.

Airing Friday night, Bellator 72 featured a potential “Submission of the Year” nominee when Karl Amoussou caught Bryan Baker with an inverted heel hook after dropping for the hold from a standing rear waist-lock. The broadcast also showcased the Bellator debut of former UFC and Strikeforce talent Paul Daley, as well as the semifinals of the light heavyweight Summer Series tournament. Bellator 72 marked the first television broadcast of the 2012 Summer Series, as June’s Bellator 71 was streamed exclusively on select digital platforms.