MMA Nation has acquired the official ratings for Bellator 52, and it appears promotion officials could not be happier. The Saturday night MTV2 telecast achieved an average audience of 269,000 viewers, while pulling in a series-high .33 rating in males age 18-49. The numbers peaked from 9:30 to 9:45 p.m., amassing 345,000 viewers.
Additionally, an immediate replay garnered 196,000 viewers. Thus the combined telecasts totaled an audience of 465,000, a stunning 111-percent growth in males age 18-34 and 62-percent growth in average audience compared to a year ago.
Despite facing direct competition from UFC on Versus 6 and college football, the numbers represent a significant rebound from the floundering numbers of Bellator 50 and Bellator 51, which each marked a low point for the Bellator-MTV2 partnership. Competing directly against UFC Fight Night 25 and NCAA football, Bellator 50 acquired a record-low 114,000 viewers, while Bellator 51 averaged 158,000 viewers against UFC 135 and similar circumstances .
Bellator 52 was held October 1st at the L'Audberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and headlined by a quartet of quarterfinal matchups for the season five heavyweight tournament.
Ratings rankings of MTV2-televised Bellator shows:
Bellator 44: 325,000 viewers
Bellator 47: 277,000 viewers
Bellator 52: 269,000 viewers
Bellator 45: 264,000 viewers
Bellator 49: 235,000 viewers
Bellator 36: 230,000 viewers
Bellator 48: 226,000 viewers
Bellator 40: 218,000 viewers
Bellator 35: 200,000 viewers
Bellator 42: 199,000 viewers
Bellator 46: 185,000 viewers
Bellator 43: 182,000 viewers
Bellator 39: 174,000 viewers
Bellator 37: 173,000 viewers
Bellator 51: 158,000 viewers
Bellator 38: 150,000 viewers
Bellator 41: 132,000 viewers
Bellator 50: 114,000 viewers