UFC 109 Prelims Ratings A Hit, Are They Influencing UFC PPV Buys?

The numbers are in for the UFC 109 prelims, which came it at an average of 1.7 million viewers.  Here's how the ratings have stacked up since the UFC first started airing preliminary fights on Spike TV at UFC 103:

Here’s a breakdown of the ratings thus far.

Event	HH	18-34	18-49	Viewers
103	1	1.5	1.3	1,400,000
104	1.1	1.3	1.3	1,400,000
106	1	1.2	1.1	1,300,000
108	1	1.4	1.3	1,500,000
109	1.2	1.6	1.6	1,700,000

Having an average of 1.7 million people has to affect the PPV buyrate somewhat.  The only thing we don't know is how many of those 1.7 were planning on buying the PPV event anyway?  I do know this, that if the UFC Prelim fights that air are really entertaining, that could certainly influence someone to purchase the PPV.  The thought process goes like this.

 "Man, those two fights were off the chain and there's more fights after this?  Oh man, I gotta watch those jawns.  Let me order this PPV and see what's up."

So even with somewhat less intriguing events like UFC 108 and 109, it's possible that the UFC is getting PPV buys that they wouldn't normally get. 

HT: MMAPayout