Strikeforce Challengers 14 ratings peak with nearly a quarter-million viewers

This past weekend's Strikeforce Challengers 14 event peaked with 244,000 viewers and averaged nearly 200,000 overall for the night's Showtime broadcast.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the figures with an industry source.

Strikeforce Challengers 14 initially took place this past Friday, Feb. 18, at Cedar Park Center in Texas near Austin. Lightweights Pat Healy and Lyle Beerbohm headlined the show.

Ratings remained consistent throughout the two-hour broadcast, which also included Carlo Prater vs. Bryan Travers. Ryan Couture (son of UFC legend Randy Couture) made his second pro appearance when he took on Lee Higgins in a lightweight bout.

The Strikeforce Challengers series is geared toward showcasing up-and-coming fighters and competitors looking to get back to the organization's "Arena Series" shows. Notables such as Miesha Tate, Tyron Woodley, Shane Del Rosario, Sarah Kaufman and others all have Challengers experience.

The average audience size for Strikeforce Challengers shows since 2010 include:

* Strikeforce Challengers 7: 316,000 viewers*
* Strikeforce Challengers 8: 249,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 10: 237,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 13: 223,000*
* Strikeforce Challengers 12: 210,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 14: 200,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 9: 197,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 6: 189,000
* Strikeforce Challengers 11: 178,000

* - Showtime "free preview" weekend

Replays of the event are available on Showtime On Demand today through March 6.