UFC Shanghai event attracts over 15,000 spectators and millions of online viewers



Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a premier international mixed martial arts organization, has officially revealed its viewing ratings of its debut on China Mainland, the UFC FIGHT NIGHT: BISPING vs GASTELUM. 

Taking place on November 25 in Shanghai, the UFC Shanghai event brought together 15,128 spectators around the Octagon, set up in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, making this event the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) event held in China. Reportedly, Shanghai is one of the UFC’S 10 newly-developed markets and this Shanghai event has become the UFC’s 6th sell-out event in 2017.  

Outside the arena, this event was streamed by PPTV and Video on Demand (VOD) which were watched by over 1 million fans. UFC’s digital streaming service, UFC FIGHT PASS, also broadcasted this event and received record-breaking viewership in its broadcast of its UFC Asian Games. 

The event was also highly discussed on Chinese social media. Its hashtag #UFC上海# (#UFCShanghai#) on Weibo was read more than 46 million times and became the most popular sports event hashtag that evening. With Chinese fighters appearing in 8 and winning 5 of the event’s 12 bouts, the total number of hashtag reads even surpassed the Mayweather vs. McGregor boxing event.

Source: Sina 

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick