“The Ultimate Fighter 12” bounced back after a drop in viewership in week eight, earning an average of 1.8 million viewers, a marked increase from last week's 1.6 million.

This week's episode scored a 1.3 household rating, as well as registering 1.79 and a 2.10 ratings in the male 18-49 and 18-34 demographics, respectively. All three figures are up from last week. The episode's viewership followed the typical blueprint, as ratings gathered momentum over the course of the hour, finishing on an episode-high 1.36 for the last quarter hour of the program.

Week nine featured two quarterfinal bouts, as Jonathan Brookins dominated judoka Sako Chivitchyan in the first fight, applying a rear-naked choke in round one and forcing the Armenian to submit. In the second contest, Nam Phan used his experience advantage to weather the early offense of Cody McKenzie, crippling the Alaskan with a body shot in round two and finishing him with punches.