<B>By MATT BOONE<BR>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>

Ileana Pena from FOX Sports Media Group sent along the following …<BR><BR>

Saturday night’s UFC ON FOX event from the United Center in Chicago, posted a 2.7/5 household overnight rating/share, +42% better than FOX’s Saturday primetime average for the previous four weeks (1.9/4), according to Nielsen Media Research.<BR><BR>

FOX Sports Research projects that the network is expected to win the night among Adults 18-49 by a wide margin, and may beat ABC, CBS and NBC combined in the Adults 18-34 demographic when national figures are issued tomorrow.<BR><BR>

The three-bout, two-hour event, the first official network broadcast of FOX’s partnership with UFC, is off from the UFC on FOX premiere in November (3.5/6), which was only one hour and featured a highly anticipated heavyweight championship fight. When comparing similar time periods for the two events, FOX posted a 3.1/5 from 9:00-10:15 PM ET, compared to the 3.5/6 that the premiere event recorded from 9:00-10:00 PM.<BR><BR>

As anticipation to the night’s main event grew so did the ratings. The night’s first match, Jitsu master Demian Maia taking on unbeaten Chris Weidman did a 2.3/4. The next fight between middleweight contender Chael Sonnen battling British star Michael Bisping grew to a 2.9/5. Fans tuned in to see former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans take on undefeated former national champion wrestler Phil Davis with that bout posting a 3.4/6. The fight went all five rounds and Evans defeated Davis by unanimous decision.<BR><BR>

The top five metered markets for Saturday’s UFC on FOX event are: Las Vegas – 4.1/8; Louisville – 4.1/7; Indianapolis – 3.9/7; Greenville – 3.9/6; Tulsa – 3.9/6; and Knoxville – 3.9/6. Other markets of interest: New York – 2.2/4; Los Angeles – 2.3/5; and host city Chicago – 2.8/5.<BR><BR>

Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the <A HREF="http://www.mmanews.com/forums" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Forums</B></A> and/or the <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Facebook</B></A>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <A HREF="http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>@mmanewsdotcom</B></A>.<BR><BR>

CHICAGO, Ill. (January 30, 2011) — In a continuing effort to bring premier sports and entertainment to those who serve in the United States Armed Forces, Bellator Fighting Championships has once again partnered with the Armed Forces Network, extending a relationship that was formed in 2010. For the approximately one million service members and their families deployed to 175 countries around the world that depend on AFN, Bellator’s sixth season and beyond will be able to be seen via the Armed Forces Network, including Bellator’s March 9 premier from The Venue at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Tickets for this event are on sale and are available at The Horseshoe Casino, Ticketmaster, www.thevenue-chicago.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.<Br><Br>

“It is an honor for us to be able to continue to provide Bellator programming to the men and women of The United States Armed Forces,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “The strength and courage displayed by the men and women of our armed forces is admirable at the highest level. To be able to give back to them, even a little bit is something I am pleased we can do”. <Br><Br>

With over 10 years of service in the United States Army, Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Eric Prindle is well aware of the importance of the AFN.<Br><Br>

“When you are stationed overseas, being able to sit down and watch sports or a big fight like Bellator brings back a piece a home, and allows you to keep doing your job,” Prindle said. “It’s a tremendous honor to know I’ve got the soldiers watching me fight, and I can promise in my rematch with Thiago Santos, I won’t let them down.”<Br><Br>

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator<Br><Br>

Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the latest news in the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.mmanews.com/forums
>Forums</a> and/or the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom
>Facebook</a>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <a href=http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom
>@mmanewsdotcom</a>.<Br><Br>

By <a href="mailto:howie@mmanews.com">Chris Howie</a> <Br>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer<Br><Br>

Chael Sonnen picked up the split decision win this past weekend in Chicago over Michael Bisping to secure a shot this summer against Anderson Silva but the fight wasn't as easy for Sonnen as he may have expected.<Br><Br>

UFC President Dana White along with some fans felt Bisping actually won the middleweight title eliminator and it was clear the bout was close heading into the third and final round.<Br><br>

Sonnen talked about Bisping's performance at the post fight press conference and also gave the Brit a vote of confidence for the future:<Br><Br>

"Having fought Bisping and the alleged champion, I can tell you Bisping could beat him today. I was surprised by everything. I was never in a position where I was comfortable. I looked at him and thought 'my God, you have no idea how hard you hit me'."<br><Br>

Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the latest news in the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.mmanews.com/forums
>Forums</a> and/or the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom
>Facebook</a>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <a href=http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom
>@mmanewsdotcom</a>.<Br><Br>

By <a href="mailto:howie@mmanews.com">Chris Howie</a> <Br>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer<Br><Br>

Early betting lines are beginning to open up for UFC 145's main event in Atlanta that will feature Jon Jones defending the UFC Light Heavyweight title against heated rival Rashad Evans and although it may come as no surprise that the Champ is the favorite, one betting site has Jones as a huge favorite.<Br><Br>

BetonFighting.com opened the betting lines for the showdown between the two and it was Jones clearly on top:<Br><Br>

Jon Jones: -600<Br>
Rashad Evans: +400<Br><Br>

Basically was this means is to win $100 betting on Jones you would need to bet $600 while betting $100 on Evans would net you $400.<Br><Br>

Fans of Rashad Evans may want to begin making their bets early as the gap will likely change as the fight draws nearer.<Br><Br>

Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the latest news in the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.mmanews.com/forums
>Forums</a> and/or the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom
>Facebook</a>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <a href=http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom
>@mmanewsdotcom</a>.<Br><Br>

By <a href="mailto:howie@mmanews.com">Chris Howie</a> <Br>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer<Br><Br>

Chael Sonnen may have walked away with the win and title shot last night at UFC on Fox 2 when he picked up the decision win over Michael Bisping but it was a closely contested bout that had UFC President Dana White swayed in the other direction:<Br><Br>

"I actually, I did score that fight, I had Bisping two rounds to one. I was actually saying before the fight, this isn’t a five to one (under)dog. Bisping wrestled with Rashad, the way Bisping wrestled with Hamil. There is debate as to who won the Hamill fight. He was in there with Hamill. Bisping has great wrestling, good stand up and great submissions, too."<br><Br>

Who did you have winning it?<br><br>

Leave your feedback on this article by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the latest news in the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.mmanews.com/forums
>Forums</a> and/or the MMANEWS.COM <a href=http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom
>Facebook</a>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <a href=http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom
>@mmanewsdotcom</a>.<Br><Br>