SAN JOSE, Calif. — The numbers that “Strikeforce on NBC” is generating indicate mixed martial arts is continuing to grow, officials said.

“It’s obviously great to see our product growing substantially on the network, but it’s more than just that,” said Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker. “The consistently strong ratings we’ve seen are a sign that the sport of MMA is flourishing and continuing to gain new fans as its visibility grows on national television.”

Recently, “Strikeforce on NBC” generated more than 1.1 million viewers, which was a new high for the first-ever 52 week mixed martial arts (MMA) series in network television history, said Strikeforce officials, citing Nielsen Ratings.

 "Strikeforce on NBC,” which premiered on April 12th, airs every Saturday, immediately following NBC’s poker tournament series, "Poker After Dark.” MMA legend Ken Shamrock and award-winning ESPN announcer Lon McEachern co-host each program.