UFC 328 saw an unusual statistical anomaly occur twice in title fights. Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira both landed 8+ takedowns in their respective championship bouts but still lost their fights. Historically, fighters who complete 5+ takedowns in UFC title fights win 81% of the time, and those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Taira particularly executed high-quality takedowns with full mount positions and nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet was still finished by Kai Asakura. The analysis suggests that while elite wrestling remains highly effective, complete mixed martial arts skill sets are becoming increasingly important. Factors like weight cutting issues, injuries, or fighting in unfavorable locations can significantly impact even dominant wrestlers' performance.
UFC 328 produced a statistical curiosity that may never have occurred twice on the same card: both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira landed eight or more takedowns in their respective title fights at the May 9 event, yet both walked away with losses.
Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, entered the bout carrying a 15-1-0 record and one of the most imposing wrestling profiles in the sport. The 32-year-old representing the UAE averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.04 per minute with 60 percent accuracy. Despite his relentless grappling output on the night, he was unable to secure the championship.
Taira's defeat was perhaps the more striking of the two. The 26-year-old Japanese flyweight, ranked fifth in his division with an 18-2-0 record, not only completed eight-plus takedowns but mounted full mount positions and accumulated nearly 11 minutes of control time. Taira averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes in his UFC career and attempts 1.6 submissions per 15 minutes, making his performance against Kai Asakura one of the most grappling-dominant losing efforts in recent title fight history. Asakura, who carries a 21-6-0 record and is ranked 15th in the flyweight division, still managed to finish the fight despite recording zero takedowns of his own.
Why it matters
- Historically, fighters completing five or more takedowns in UFC title fights win 81 percent of the time; seven or more pushes that figure to 83 percent, making two losses in a single night a genuine anomaly.
- The results raise questions about whether factors outside of grappling volume — weight cutting, injuries, or positional fighting — can neutralize even elite wrestling in championship rounds.
- For the flyweight division in particular, Asakura's victory over the fifth-ranked Taira reshuffles the title picture despite the winner holding only a 15th-place divisional ranking entering the fight.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
