{"id":209759,"date":"2016-11-09T12:13:51","date_gmt":"2016-11-09T20:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=209759"},"modified":"2016-11-09T12:29:48","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T20:29:48","slug":"ufc-fight-night-98-viewership-ratings-peaked-alexa-grasso-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/alexa-grasso\/ufc-fight-night-98-viewership-ratings-peaked-alexa-grasso-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Fight Night 98 Viewership Ratings Peaked During Alexa Grasso Fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Saturday, the UFC returned to Mexico City, Mexico, with UFC Fight Night 98.<\/p>\n

The highlight of the Octagon’s Mexican return was undoubtedly the main event, which saw streaking lightweight contender Tony Ferguson take a decision from former champion Rafael Dos Anjos<\/a> in an action-packed, five-round battle<\/a>. Other highlights of the card included a nice win courtesy of The Ultimate Fighter 1 veteran Diego Sanchez<\/a>, who defied the odds to spoil the UFC debut of Bellator vet Marcin Held, and Ricardo Lamas’ beautiful submission defeat<\/a> of the over weight Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira.<\/p>\n

Despite the presence of established names like Ferguson, Dos Anjos, Sanchez, Lamas and Oliveira on this card, however, the broadcast’s viewership actually peaked during the first fight of the main card. This fight saw undefeated strawweight\u00a0prospect and former Invicta Fighting Championship star Alexa Grasso make her Octagon debut against Heather Jo Clark. The prospect would win this fight by restructuring Clark’s nose en route to a unanimous decision win.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Heather<\/a><\/p>\n

This, of course, is exciting news as it’s an indicator of Grasso’s potential as a future star. Despite having never fought in the UFC before, the telegenic prospect was able to attract more eyes than a former champion, a top contender, an old school fan favorite, and two of the featherweight division’s best fighters.<\/p>\n

So, onto the numbers (via MMAFighting.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

During Grasso’s debut, viewership crescendoed at\u00a0932,000. Average viewership for the whole event, meanwhile, was \u00a0860,000, while viewership for the prelims, which were headlined by a bout between Erik “Goyito” Perez and Felipe Arantes, sat at 668,000.<\/p>\n

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This is what people have been waiting for with @AlexaGrasso<\/a>! Dynamite! #UFCMexico<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/fekfwFmQOc<\/a><\/p>\n

— UFC (@ufc) November 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n