Knockout Ratings For 'The Ultimate Fighter' Finale on Spike TV

2.6 Million Tuned in to See Dramatic Conclusion to Spike TV's Highly-Rated Series on Saturday, April 9

Largest Audience Ever To Watch a LIVE UFC Fight

NEW YORK, April 12 -- The LIVE finale of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter drew 2.6 million viewers on Saturday, April 9 (9:00-11:30pm ET/PT), making it the most watched fight in UFC history. The 2-1/2 hour climax to the highly-rated Spike TV reality series, The Ultimate Fighter tallied a 1.9 household rating (1,726,000).

"These record-breaking numbers illustrate that UFC and the sport of mixed martial arts fighting is on the rise," says Doug Herzog, President, Spike TV. "It is also a true testament to the incredible dedicated and fearless athletes on The Ultimate Fighter."

"Spike TV served as the perfect network to position UFC as the sport of the future," states Dana White, President, UFC.

Other ratings highlights include the following:

* Triple digit gains in key male demos and viewership -- 3.3/848,000 Men 18-34 up +562; 2.7/1,409,000 Men 18-49 up +477; and 2.6 million viewers up +229% (all versus year ago - Spike TV aired MXC, WWE Velocity, and WWE Confidential)

* Most watched show for Men 18-34 on television including the broadcast networks - 3.3 (848,000).

* Second most-watched original series in network history (finale of The Joe Schmo Show --3.4 million viewers)

* Most watched Saturday in Spike TV history - 938,000 average audience (9:00am-3:00am)

* In Total Day (which included a 12-hour The Ultimate Fighter marathon), Spike TV was #1 with Men 18-34 (1.2/ 304,000) and Men 18-49 (1.0/497,000) in all of basic cable.

The record-breaking fight night from the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas featured a dramatic three-round war for The Ultimate Fighter light heavyweight crown between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin, described by announcer Joe Rogan as the 'one of the greatest fights in UFC history.' In the middleweight Ultimate Fighter title bout, Diego Sanchez knocked out Kenny Florian in the first round. "The World's Most Dangerous Man," Ken Shamrock lost to rising star Rich Franklin to a first round knockout in the final bout of the evening.

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc.

SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com