Philippines, 20 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SFT MMA Xtreme preparing for 2021 opener as reruns of past events drew huge viewing numbers on Brazilian television during pandemic

PhilBoxing.com




SAO PAULO, Brazil (May 17, 2021) – As SFT MMA Xtreme prepares for its tentative June 26th return in Brazil, despite being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in cancellations of several events, including those scheduled in the United States and Mexico, the promotional company was able to stay relevant by airing reruns of past events

SFT MMA Xtreme replays were shown every Saturday on Brazilian television, Band, and have been so well received by combat sports fans that viewing numbers were nearly as high as those most live vents.

A recent survey conducted by “MMA TV Ratings,” based on the average audience for the top five MMA events most watched on television in America in 2021, revealed that SFT had better comparative viewing numbers than compared to UFC, Combate Americas, ONE Championship, PFL and Bellator during the same period.
According to this report, the UFC averaged of 710,000 viewers on ABC and ESPN, 351,000 on Univision for Combate Americas, 274,000 on TNT for ONE Championship, 156,000 on ESPN2 for PFL and 95,000 for Bellator on Showtime.

Although the overall average combining the five MMA organizations was 1.5 million, SFT average 1.2 million viewers on Band.

The January 16th UFC event on ABC, headlined by Max Halloway and Calvin Kattar, had an average 1.2 million viewers. The SFT Awards #2 show, shown on Band, registered 1.1 million viewers. Last year, SFT 23 averaged 1.4 million, SFT 21 had 1.5 million, and replays of SFT from June average 1,.8 million.

“I was surprised by these numbers and, at the same time, very happy,” SFT president David Hudson said. “When I arrived at SFT, after the fourth season, we had the idea to do more events featuring female MMA. We were questioned and warned that everything was going to go wrong, but it proved to be the exact opposite. The venue was full and right up to today, these female events (SFT 6, 17 and 22) were our biggest, Our show in Mexico was also a great success, so I proved to everyone that female MMA had fans and just as many good fights as men. Everybody said I was crazy to match Brazilian states, Sao Paul versus Rio, in SFT 12, which remains out best-ever event. They believed MMA doesn’t not have true fans in Brazil, that people only go watch their instructors and gym partners, but that was the way things had been done in Brazil prior to SFT 12. Our viewers have increased, and we’ve been showing reruns for 14 months, since live events have not been held with fans since the start of the pandemic. The good news is that the numbers have been maintained. I’m happy but want to do better. I was impressed. I saw our numbers here and UFC’s in the United States and their numbers never came close to what we did here in Brazil.

“The five biggest MMA events combined that were shown in the U.S. had viewer numbers only a little higher than what SFT did alone in Brazil. UFC is the biggest promotion in the world – SFT isn’t comparable to UFC – but we’re certainly on the right track. SFT is a machine capable of doing much more. I would like to highlight SFT more on our social networks and on our YouTube channel, which has become increasingly solid with impressive numbers. We did a great job for three years, one of which was during the pandemic with practically no live events with fans. Post-pandemic, SFT intends to strengthen our work in Brazil, United States and Mexico. More and more, athletes want to be seen, and SFT gives them that visibility.”

INFORMATION:
Website: www.sftmma.com
Facebook: /SFT.MMA, /SFT.Xtreme, davidhudson.SFT
Twitter: @SFTMMA, @SFTUSA
Instagram: @SFTMMA, @SFTEXTREME, @DavidHudson.SFT
You Tube: /SFTUSA, /SFTBrasil




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • IIEE to defend Billiard crown in PTC World 2026, World Champ Magpantay is PSA Awardee
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Wood-Warrington II Press Conference Quotes: Everything that Was Said Ahead of Saturday's Sold-Out Rematch in Nottingham
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Opponents for Rising Stars Jimuel Pacquiao Jr. and Curmel Moton on Feb. 28 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Rising Star Promotions Returns to Prudential Center April 10 LIVE ON PROBOX TV
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Sante Barley Trilogy Leg 1 on March 29 in Azuela
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Team Rapid chess tourney goes to Pasay City on March 8 By Marlon Bernardino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • 3rd Horse Show & competition scheduled on February 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Robinsons Bacolod Chess Festival set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Alex Bray Set for WBA Continental Latin American Title Clash February 20 in Orlando
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Calls out Jai Opetaia
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • BREAKING NEWS: DAZN AND MATCHROOM BOXING SIGN NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 75 climbers start trekking to Mt. Apo today
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Dainier Pero Locked In Ahead of WBA Continental USA Title Defense in Orlando
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • A Milestone Birthday: Celebrating Brico Santig's 50 Years of Dedication, and Triumph
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • PH bet Chezka Centeno finishes 2nd in Florida
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.