When it comes to PPV buy rates we never really get disclosed true and accurate figures. However the one reliable and lone source for UFC pay-per-view figures has and always will be, Mr. Dave Meltzer.
When people talk of buys, stating this PPV did this amount and this one did that, it is all based on his industry intelligence. The UFC never confirms figures, nor do the broadcasters, however, Meltzer’s time in the PPV business has gone on way before the UFC existed and therefore his estimates and contacts are widely considered as valid and on point.
With that being said, here is what he said via MMAFighting.com about UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman:
While not reaching quite the levels that Dana White projected from trending patterns the night of the show, UFC 162, which featured Chris Weidman ending Anderson Silva’s record setting win streak and taking his middleweight title, now looks to have done about 550,000 buys on pay-per-view based on industry sources.
The number would be in the same realm as UFC 159, on April 27, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen for the light heavyweight title battling for the second-biggest number so far this year. UFC’s high point was UFC 158, on March 16, headlined by Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title defense against Nick Diaz, which is estimated at doing 950,000 buys.
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It’s also well above the estimated 410,000 buys for Silva’s fight with Stephan Bonnar in October, although that was a non-title fight at light heavyweight.
White had projected 800,000 buys for UFC 162 based on the factors he and the UFC use the week of the fight to measure interest. For whatever reason, Silva fights traditionally do better in projections. Both Sonnen fights and the Vitor Belfort fight also measured higher in projections before numbers came in than they ended up doing, although all three of those fights were significant successes, falling between 600,000 buys and 925,000.