The Ultimate Fighter 14 Ratings: Episode 2 Climbs To 1.6 Million Viewers, 1.22 Household Rating

Ratings for the second episode of the fourteenth season of "The Ultimate Fighter" have been released, and it's good news for Spike TV executives. According to network officials, Wednesday's episode drew an estimated audience of 1.6 million viewers, up from the 1.5 million of the season premiere. Similarly, the one-hour broadcast's household rating climbed from 1.1 to 1.22.

The show also earned a 1.58 rating in the 'males age 18 to 49 demographic' and locked in a 1.95 rating in the key 'males age 18 to 34 demographic.'

Needless to say, the unexpected improvements are a welcome sign for both Spike and the UFC. In the past, ratings have generally fallen from the season premiere to the second episode. Last season provided a perfect example, as viewership tumbled from 1.5 million to 1.2 million between the first and second week.

It's quite possible that interest in the show is improving due to the budding rivalry between middleweight coaches Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Michael Bisping, as well as public interest in the addition of the featherweight and bantamweight classes.

For a comprehensive first-hand account of the second episode, check out the recap blog of featherweight contestant Akira Corassani.