Old Guys Now The UFC’s Key Demo

The largest demographic of people watching the UFC on television may be much different than you thought.

A new study shows that the UFC’s biggest demographic is 49-year-old men.

What appears to be troubling about this study is 10 years ago, the UFC’s  main demographic was 34-year-old men. This new study may suggest that the UFC isn’t gaining younger viewers, but is instead just keeping the old fans they gained during the UFC’s boom period on Spike TV.

It is important to note, that these numbers do not include viewers who are watching the UFC online via UFC Fight Pass.

However, these numbers could play a huge factor when the UFC tries to negotiate a new television deal. Their current deal with FOX expires in 2018.

Here is an excerpt from the study:

The study, conducted exclusively for SportsBusiness Journal by Magna Global, looked at live, regular-season game coverage of major sports across both broadcast and cable television in 2000, 2006 and 2016. It showed that while the median age of viewers of most sports, except the WTA, NBA and MLS, is aging faster than the overall U.S. population, it is doing so at a slower pace than prime-time TV.

The trends show the challenges facing leagues as they try to attract a younger audience and ensure long-term viability, and they reflect the changes in consumption patterns as young people shift their attention to digital platforms.