Bellator 58: Chandler Vs. Alvarez Propels Ratings To Season-Five High 260,000 Viewers

It's amazing what a "Fight of the Year" candidate can do for ratings.

Led by Michael Chandler's stunning fourth-round victory over former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, Bellator 58 drew the highest ratings of Bellator's fifth season. According to figures collected by MMA Nation, the primetime event collected 269,000 viewers, the highest rating in the male 18-34 demographic of the season, and the second highest male 18-34 rating ever in promotion history. 

A peak audience of 345,000 viewers tuned in at approximately 8:45 p.m. as Chandler battled back from the brink to sieze Alvarez's championship belt. An immediate replay drew 160,000 viewers, bringing the combined viewership total to 429,000.

In addition, traffic for the Spike.com preliminary card stream skyrocketed 97-percent from the prior week.

All of this success came despite the fact that Bellator 58 directly completed with one of the most exciting UFC cards of the year, UFC 139, as well as a primetime NCAA football tilt featuring No. 1 LSU.

MTV2 broadcasted Bellator rankings:

Bellator 44: 325,000 viewers
Bellator 47: 277,000
Bellator 58: 269,000
Bellator 52: 269,000
Bellator 45: 264,000
Bellator 49: 235,000
Bellator 36: 230,000
Bellator 48: 226,000
Bellator 40: 218,000
Bellator 35: 200,000
Bellator 42: 199,000
Bellator 54: 185,000
Bellator 46: 185,000
Bellator 43: 182,000
Bellator 39: 174,000
Bellator 37: 173,000
Bellator 55: 168,000
Bellator 51: 158,000
Bellator 56: 154,000
Bellator 38: 150,000
Bellator 57: 129,000
Bellator 41: 132,000
Bellator 50: 114,000
Bellator 53: 103,000