"The Ultimate Fighter" Draws 6.1 Million Viewers

by Robert Sargent

On an episode featuring a battle between street fighter and former EliteXC megastar Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and final IFL Heavyweight Champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson, The Ultimate Fighter reality show drew a whopping 6.1 million viewers.

The show drew a 3.7 household rating overall, which made it the most-watched episode of an original series in the six-year history of Spike TV.

Drawing a 6.9 rating among men ages 18 to 34, TUF 10 was watched by more males in the demographic than any other show throughout the week, with the exception of Monday Night Football.

However, the show's biggest draw, Slice, was handily defeated by Nelson and it is likely that much of the audience that tuned in to see Slice's fight may lose interest if their favourite brawler is no longer competing. Slice could still return at a later date if another competitor becomes injured.

Thus far, ratings are up 23 percent from this season's debut episode.