The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX is currently the lowest-rated season in the history of the series. The show has been missing that WOW factor for quite some time. Season 10 back in 2009 featuring Kimbo Slice and the Rampage vs. Evans feud was the last signs of worth wild television the show has produced. Faber and Cruz are two of the best fighters in the world but they do not produce that dynamic you want from opposing coaches in order to pop a rating. Also, the show hasn’t changed its look or presentation since its debut in 2005
–The Ultimate Fighter Live Ratings
Episode 1: 1,300,000 viewers
Episode 2: 1,100,000 viewers
Episode 3: 1,200,000 viewers
Episode 4: 1,100,000 viewers
Episode 5: 947,000 viewers
Episode 6: 1,000,000 viewers
Episode 7: 1,000,000 viewers
Episode 8: 929,000 viewers (series low)
Episode 9: 954,000 viewers
UFC signed with Fox because they grew as much as they could on Spike. Viewership flourished on Spike while it is floundering on the more popular FX and they are both available in 91 million homes. Spike made its name because of the UFC and vice versa. FX has delivered popular shows such as Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me, The League, American Horror Story, The Shield, Damages, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sons of Anarchy, and more. Besides TNA Impact, could you name another show besides the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
UFC is one of many high dollar priorities for FX while UFC was the biggest and in many ways, the only priority for Spike. When the big fish leaves the small pond for the Atlantic Ocean, the big fish needs to bring a new bag of tricks. Hopefully, they will bring some much-needed changes to season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter this fall.
Ringside Logic 