UFC Prime Time numbers suggest there is light at the end of the tunnel for the UFC.

First, let me say I am honored to have been asked to share my own thoughts for Budo MMA Good time jamboree. Ok, that is not the name of the site, but it would make for a decent title....don't you think?

On Wed the 9th, the UFC aired Episode one of UFC Prime Time: GSP vs. Hardy. That ep had an ave audience of one million. That is about 15% above the ave for Penn/GSP. They also did a 1.1 rating among males 18 to 34 and 1.0 for m18 to 49. Both of those are up from Penn/GSP.

Heading into this first episode, there were those within Zuffa that were expecting a buyrate of 600-650,000 for this upcoming showdown (UFC 111) and that it is the PPV that will start the upswing in buyrates.

Anyone that follows MMA (and thus pretty much everyone that will read this) knows that the last six months, for the UFC, have been not unlike the trials of Job (in the bible). Murphy's law has run rough shot over the company, with injuries, illness, disease and infections beating the crap out of the roster. I would list the number of line-up changes, but I just don't think we have that kind of bandwidth.

But I will say that the Fall of 2009 was supposed to be a big one for the UFC. Things did not turn out that way and from UFC 105-109, the UFC did all it could to salvage the shows and keep the train on the rails. Overall, they did a decent job considering the troubles they were having.

But that did not change the fact that the shows simply lacked the star power and big name match-ups that made the first half of the year so profitable. While some of these cards still ended up being damn good, they failed to send fans to the piggy bank for money to buy the shows. Some of the worst buyrates in the last four years occurred in the last six months.

This has resulted in some MMA internet writers to proclaim that the sky is indeed falling. Reading some of the articles, one would be certain that Dana White was put on suicide watch and that Frank and Lorezno Fertitta are likely down to their last one million dollars.

I don't think things are quite that dire. I certainly agree that those shows have killed the momentum that was built by UFC 91-100, but profits have still been made and things can be put back on track. It will just take some good shows and star power. The kind of star power Mr. St-Pierre brings into UFC 111.

As excited as folks around the Zuffa HQ were prior to the first ep of Prime Time: GSP/Hardy, they have to be even more ecstatic after seeing these numbers. Dan Hardy understands the PR game and is doing a pretty good job so far. And GSP is being presented as a great MMA fighter that is looking to take it to the next level and become one of the true greats.

If they are able to sustain these numbers for the second and third episodes, UFC 111 might deliver numbers well beyond the initial expectations. Until I see what those other eps do, I am not going to alter my own prediction: 675,000 buys. Keep in mind that the countdown show will have Shane Carwin and, more importantly, Frank Mir hyping their own bout. Frankie seemingly dreams about Lesnar more than a fat guy dreams about...Hey Buffalo, what do you dream about?

Just kidding! But Frank's apparent obsession has made for some entertaining sound bites and should be able to entice more than a few to buy 111.

And barring another visit by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, UFC 111 should be the start of a strong Spring/Summer for the UFC and keep Mr. White from entering said suicide watch.