UFC 249 a ‘home run’ with more than 700k PPV buys for Gaethje win over Ferguson but how does it compare to record sales?
DANA WHITE has revealed UFC 249 was a "home run" in terms of pay-per-view numbers with reports suggesting the event drew 700,000 buys.
Justin Gaethje emerged as the winner in the main event as he became the new UFC interim lightweight champion after outclassing Tony Ferguson in the behind-closed-doors show.
The event proved to be a huge success with fans lauding the headline clash, and it appears to have been brilliant business for the UFC, too.
According to John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal via MMA News, the card was purchased by over 700,000 people on ESPN.
UFC president White failed to disclose the figures in an interview with Yahoo Sports, though he did proudly gloat about the numbers it achieved.
He said: "We absolutely destroyed it. It was a home run by every measure.
"The early trends were good and they continued.”
But despite the brilliant numbers, the event still didn't manage to break into the top ten biggest PPV buys in UFC history.
BIG HITTERS
Incredibly, Conor McGregor features in the top six a whopping five times - proving he truly is the biggest draw in MMA.
The Notorious' clash against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 249 in 2018 sits top of the list, pulling in a staggering 2.4 million buys.
It remains the only UFC event to boast more than 2m purchases with the Russian putting on a show as he forced the Irishman into submission.
McGregor's rematch against Nate Diaz at UFC 202 drew 1.65m buys, with the two-weight world champion avenging his loss against the American.
Brock Lesnar's epic performance in his second bout against Frank Mir at UFC 100 in 2009 comes in third place thanks to 1.6m buys.
Diaz's thrilling victory over McGregor in early 2016 at UFC 196 was bought by 1.5m fans, with the latter's lightning quick KO win against Jose Aldo at UFC 194 completing the top five.
LATEST UFC NEWS
McGregor's last entry in the list was his lightweight world title victory against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205, which was purchased by 1.3m supporters.
Amanda Nunes' win against Miesa Tate at UFC 200 is seventh, with Lesnar's triumph over Shane Carwin at UFC 116 coming in eighth.
In joint ninth is Ronda Rousey's clash against Holly Holm at UFC 193, as well as her fight against Nunes at UFC 207, with both events drawing in 1.1m buys.