Meltzer: UFC 112 a 'major PPV success'

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), Dave Meltzer reports that UFC 112 is a "major PPV success" as early trending patterns show the show did 525,000 buys.

[T]rending patterns indicate a number in the range of 525,000 buys, far better than any overseas event has ever done. We know of systems in California where this show beat WrestleMania, which I’d have never expected, and it looks to have handily beat Mania in Canada, although that wasn’t as much of a surprise.

This number comes as a surprise as the show aired live at 1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT and at 7 a.m. in BJ Penn's home state of Hawaii, a state that always buys in droves when Penn is fighting.

It's also interesting to speculate on how word-of-mouth could've possibly affected the number as word of Anderson Silva's antics spread. Also: If this did about 525,000 buys, which to my knowledge is about 200,000 better than any overseas card has ever done, what would it have done if this card was held in North America? Obviously, that wasn't an issue for Dana White, as he put on this card for his new partners at Flash Entertainment, but it's still fun to think about.

Whatever the case may be, this number shows UFC fans come out for the big shows and when there are title fights and seemingly care little when there's not a title fight, no matter where the show is held.

But if you're in the UFC, the numbers from the last two shows are a good sign. May is going to be a test, though. Can Lyoto Machida and Shogun Rua draw in their rematch? Will the Quinton Jackson-Rashad Evans fight do well six months after it should've been held? Time will tell.

SBN coverage of UFC 112: Invincible