UFC 108 "Lowest ratings in several years"

The total attendance for UFC 108 was a heavily papered 12,377 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The place wasn’t sold out, and there was a curtain up over the upper level on one side of the arena, the first time I’ve ever seen curtains used for a major UFC event. Paid was 8,004, with a gate of $1,969,670. It should be noted that a lot of that paid was casino buys, noting that the MGM Grand had purchased a large block of tickets (which is common practice for big UFC events) and were giving two tickets away to anyone who booked a room in the hotel that weekend.

Current trending patterns for UFC 108 are at this point looking like 255,000 to 270,000 buys, which if those numbers end up accurate, would be the lowest for a North American show in several years. But most figured that would be the case given all the injuries changing the lineup and it was a patched up show. Just like it wasn’t wise to overreact to 107, which did so well, same here, because with all the injuries, it was a show that wasn’t going to do well and it was just a question as to where the actual bottom base is right now. I’m not sure how 109 will do. Whether the public buys the two Hall of Famers deal will tell the tale. The advertising for it so far has been good. Obviously Couture’s drawing power isn’t what it once was, but if they can do the same business Couture’s fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira did, then I’d consider it a success.

The UFC has shown tremendous resilience in plugging ahead despite the plague of locusts that have afflicted their fall cards and 3/4 of their champions.

On the other hand, by refusing to consolidate two weak cards into one (say combine UFC 108 and 109) they have now established a new floor for UFC ppvs.

If they don't watch out they will train their loyal fans that not every UFC is worth ordering.

MMA Junkie reported Dana White's more optimistic projections:

"We were looking at (projected PPV buys) and ... our norm is around 500,000, and we think we're going to fall somewhere between (400,000 and 500,000)," White told reporters. "We'll see what happens."

Brent Brookhouse at SBNation commented:

Despite claims by some that Rashad Evans had become a major draw on the heels of his stint as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter and claims by some others that the UFC couldn't dip below 350k buys for any PPV, it looks like that is exactly what we're getting.

The card was just brutally bad in terms of drawing power and while it was an entertaining watch it remains true that the event had no real mainstream appeal.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/1/14/1251868/meltzer-ufc-108-ratings-the-lowest

they need 5 round Main Events
weak 3 round main events are getting stale

I know I didnt pay for that card. I guess it ended up being pretty good but on paper i couldnt pay for the card.

I bought it. I buy any UFC card though now because I am a complete MMA nerd.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I bought it. I buy any UFC card though now because I am a complete MMA nerd.

I wish I could I just cant afford it.

It'll just be a wake up call to the UFC to step it up, watch events be pretty sick from here on out, plus the was an injury plagued card

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

It'll just be a wake up call to the UFC to step it up, watch events be pretty sick from here on out, plus the was an injury plagued card

Even with the injuries if the main event would have been Rashad vs Rampage instead of Rashad vs Silva it would have sold a ton better.

I guess I was just a weirdo for being excited for 108. I saw the matchups and thought they'd make exciting fights and I turned out to be right. It was weird to me that people thought it was such a bad card when there were 5 great knockout artists in the top 3 fights, with arguably the most exciting submission artist thrown in there for fun. I'm not really drawn to big names, I just love good fights. So I was way more excited for 108 than I am for 109. I don't like watching Couture fight, and I don't understand why so many people do. I'd rather watch Rashad instead of Randy any day.

Well, the buyrates mean they need to step their game up...but the attendance probably means they need to lower their damn ticket prices.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

Well, the buyrates mean they need to step their game up...but the attendance probably means they need to lower their damn ticket prices.

Yeah the Vegas market may be a little saturated too. I like that they move their shows around the US and world.

Ticket prices are crazy. I tried to get tickets to go to whatever UFC that was in Ohio not long ago and the ticket prices was way to high.

timthebim wrote:

Ticket prices are crazy. I tried to get tickets to go to whatever UFC that was in Ohio not long ago and the ticket prices was way to high.

I think the almost always have 50 seats, but they sell out very quickly.

Farmer1906 wrote:

timthebim wrote:

Ticket prices are crazy. I tried to get tickets to go to whatever UFC that was in Ohio not long ago and the ticket prices was way to high.

I think the almost always have 50 seats, but they sell out very quickly.

Yeah when I was looking I needed 4 tickets and the cheapest they had was like 275 or 300 hundred. It was alittle high for me.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

Well, the buyrates mean they need to step their game up...but the attendance probably means they need to lower their damn ticket prices.

Ding Ding Ding
they were asing for more money in Dallas, than Jerry Jones is for Pac vs Clottey
they had thousand dollar cage seats
no wonder they gave away thousands of comps

Maybe they should stop giving shit cards.

Look at this next one.... Coleman vs. Couture...WHO GIVES A SHIT?!

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here by saying I HATE that main event.

Since I have started watching MMA again, that is the least interresting main event fight I have ever seen.

NoRegret wrote:

Maybe they should stop giving shit cards.

Look at this next one.... Coleman vs. Couture...WHO GIVES A SHIT?!

Maybe I'm going out on a limb here by saying I HATE that main event.

Since I have started watching MMA again, that is the least interresting main event fight I have ever seen.

Looks past the main event. There are some very good fights.

Yeah but the Main Event is what draws most ppl do buy the PPV's, does it not?

NoRegret wrote:

Yeah but the Main Event is what draws most ppl do buy the PPV's, does it not?

True, but I'm going to enjoy the hell out of a deep card.

I didnt say I wasnt gonna watch it lol im just not buying it, and Im guaranteeing the ratings for that PPV suck a huge dick too lol

If the main event isn't amazing, but the card is really deep and stacked, I still consider it a great event. Is Randy vs. Coleman ideal? hell no, but it was the only real option for both guys, and they aren't not gonna put Randy in the main event. I think that card will do 550,000+

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

If the main event isn't amazing, but the card is really deep and stacked, I still consider it a great event. Is Randy vs. Coleman ideal? hell no, but it was the only real option for both guys, and they aren't not gonna put Randy in the main event. I think that card will do 550,000+

Reminds me of Winky vs BHOP, the fight was a stinker, but we got a 12th round hail mary KO, and Katsidias vs Czar Amonst
great card, main event was a bore.
Still didnt feel like I was cheated out of my 50

gotta agree

I really enjoyed the card.

The main event is the marquee, regardless of the rest, to people unlike ourselves who watch every fight anyways. The borderline, 'I only buy three or four UFC's a year', type might not be sold on a less then stellar marquee.

Everybody is over thinking this. Every card has a fight that just doesn't go as well as hoped. I thought the Maynard/Diaz fight was kinda sucky, because there was not much grappling and a whole lot of boxing, but the other fights were really good on that card.

We must also try to remember that Joe Silva does an excellent job of making matches, sure he makes mistakes Remember Marquardt/Maia, Silva/Lietes? These things happen, but normally we get a couple of really good fights and sometimes we get a great one.

I too did not pay for the fight, I just always go to BWW and watch it for free.

Farmer1906 wrote:

timthebim wrote:

Ticket prices are crazy. I tried to get tickets to go to whatever UFC that was in Ohio not long ago and the ticket prices was way to high.

I think the almost always have 50 seats, but they sell out very quickly.

Usually to the UFC Fan Club members that can buy them before they go on sale to the public.