Press release: Combate Americas today announced stellar ratings for its first live televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event of 2019 – ‘Mexico vs. USA’ – that garnered 610,000 viewers on Univision and UDN despite its midnight ET start time, on Friday, Feb. 22.
“Combate Americas is kicking off 2019 by continuing to disrupt the industry with knockout ratings, leaving our competitors dazed and confused,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren. “Last Friday’s return to live television on Univision is evidence that Combate Americas’ fight talent, unique format and production continue to drive a bigger and more engaged audience.”
The live event, which took place at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., racked up a barrage of ratings highlights including beating two competitors in the same slot on Friday – Telemundo’s boxing event (11:35 p.m. ET), and ONE Championship’s TNT telecast.
“Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA” outperformed its two major, general market competitors the following day, Saturday, Feb. 23, beating Bellator 217 on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET, and the UFC Fight Night preliminary bout card.
Combate Americas’ ratings also defeated those of the Liga MX soccer match between Leon and Pumas, the fourth most popular soccer club in Mexico, on Sunday at 12:30pm.
The live, U.S. television viewership was the highest rated of any show in the same time slot on Univision on any other day last week.
In the “Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA” main event, Anthony “The Shark” Avila of Sacramento, Calif. via Lemoore, Calif. slugged it out relentlessly with Pablo “El Gallo Negro” Sabori of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, MX before Avila walked away with a close, split decision victory.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 3/5/2019.