UFC Newark Draws Lowest Ratings to Date for ESPN-Televised Main Card

UFC on ESPN 5 drew the lowest ratings to date for an event televised on the Worldwide Leader, attracting an average audience of 680,000 viewers for the main card.

Ratings figures were released by ShowBuzz Daily. The previous low for an ESPN-televised card came when UFC on ESPN 2 averaged 828,000 viewers for a card headlined by Justin Gaethje and Edson Barboza on March 30.

UFC on ESPN 5 took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 3 and was headlined by a welterweight duel between Colby Covington and Robbie Lawler. The main card started earlier than usual, beginning at approximately 3 p.m. ET and running until 6 p.m. ET. Ratings peaked at 945,000 viewers for the main event, which Covington won by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, the UFC on ESPN 5 prelims averaged 523,000 viewers. The featured bout for that portion of the card was a welterweight showdown between Mickey Gall and Salim Touhri. Gall won the contest via unanimous decision.