The final numbers are in for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s record-setting Saturday stop at Rogers Centre in Toronto. UFC 129 “St. Pierre vs. Shields” officially drew 55,724 fans for a live gate of $12.075 million, smashing both promotional and North American MMA records.
UFC President Dana White announced the figures during the event’s post-fight news conference.
The 12-fight card, which was broadcast on pay-per-view and in part through Facebook and Spike TV, was headlined by UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre’s title defense against Jake Shields. Though he emerged battered and bloodied, the Canadian champion displayed more than enough striking prowess to turn away his American challenger and earn a unanimous decision after five rounds.
Tickets for UFC 129 went on sale to the general public on Feb. 12 and sold out in mere minutes. Originally configured to hold 42,000, the Rogers Centre seating was reconfigured with 55,000 seats due to enormous demand.
The final tally of attendees more than doubled the UFC’s previous record, set when 23,152 filled the Bell Centre in Montreal to watch St. Pierre defeat Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 on Dec. 11. Also doubled was the existing live gate mark, which previously stood at $5.4 million from UFC 66 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 30, 2006.
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