Initial draw estimates for UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen suggest that total pay-per-view buys reached up to 550,000, making this Jones’ second most watched title bout.
As UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones (18-1) successfully defended his title on April 27, against Chael Sonnen (27-13-1) via a first round TKO victory, UFC 159 is understood to be the promotion’s second most watched event of 2013 so far, coming second to St-Pierre vs Diaz at UFC 158.
Supported by a co-main event of Britain’s Michael Bisping defeating Alan Belcher by technical-decision, Sonnen’s LHW title challenge out-sold that of former UFC champions Vitor Belfort (450,000), Lyoto Machida (480,000) and, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson (520,000) with Jones capturing the title from ‘Shogun’ Rua in 2011 drawing an estimated ppv buyrate of 490,000.
Despite heavy criticism suggesting that Sonnen should not have received the opportunity, to which he responded with “I don’t earn title shots, title shots earn me. I don’t go after main events, main events go after me whether I deserve it or not…”, It appears the American, to an extent, has backed up his claims on this occasion.
Figures via MMAPayout.com Blue Book
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