Raw and UFC ratings notes
There will be no ratings for either the weekend UFC programming or for Raw available today due to Martin Luther King’s birthday.
Ratings for the weekend, which includes the Dominick Cruz vs. TJ Dillashaw bantamweight title change, will be available tomorrow. Preliminary numbers based on the overnight ratings have indicated Sunday’s show will be one of the most watched UFC events ever on FS 1, likely second most to the show last January headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver.
Raw’s number will also be interesting as it was for the go-home show for the Royal Rumble, built around a Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns confrontation from early in the show. Traditionally Raw numbers bounce back significantly in January when football season ends. Monday will be the first show since the last football game of the season airs on a Monday, although the show two weeks ago didn’t have football competition and the bouce-back was less than anticipated.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.