UFC Minneapolis Main Card Averages Slightly More Than 1 Million Viewers on ESPN

The UFC’s third offering on ESPN averaged 1.091 million viewers on the Worldwide Leader, making it the third-most viewed cable Fight Night card since February 2017.

ESPN released ratings figures for UFC Minneapolis on Tuesday. When combining figures for ESPN and ESPN Deportes, the average audience increased to 1.41 million viewers. UFC on ESPN 3 took place at the Target Center in Minneapolis and saw Francis Ngannou defeat Junior dos Santos via technical knockout 71 seconds into their heavyweight headliner.

UFC on ESPN 1, which was headlined by a showdown between Ngannou and Cain Velasquez, averaged 1.463 million viewers, while ESPN on ESPN 2, which featured a lightweight duel between Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza, attracted an audience of 828,000.

UFC on ESPN 3 peaked during the final 15 minutes, which included the main event, at 1.5 million viewers. The card made ESPN the most viewed cable network on Saturday night among all people between 18 and 34 and in three male demographics (18-34, 18-49 and 25-54).

According to a release, UFC on ESPN is averaging nearly 1 million viewers through June 29, which is a six-percent ratings increase from the combined UFC audience on Fox, FS1 and FX at this time last year.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s preliminary card drew 553,000 viewers for a lineup that was topped by a clash between Ricardo Ramos and Journey Newsom.