UFC 328 saw a rare statistical anomaly occur twice, as both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira landed eight or more takedowns in their title fights yet both lost. Historically, fighters who land five or more takedowns in UFC title fights win 81% of the time, and those with seven or more win 83% of the time. Chimaev landed nine takedowns while Taira landed eight with nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet both were defeated. The post analyzes that this demonstrates the importance of well-rounded skills over pure wrestling, as factors like weight cutting, injuries, and fatigue can significantly impact wrestling-heavy approaches against elite strikers.
UFC 328 produced a statistical anomaly rarely seen in championship competition, as two fighters each landed eight or more takedowns in their respective title bouts at the event on May 9 — and both walked away with losses.
Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, recorded nine takedowns in his title fight yet could not secure the championship. The 32-year-old representing the United Arab Emirates carries a 15-1-0 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev has long been one of the sport's most physically imposing wrestlers, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career with a striking accuracy of 60 percent.
Tatsuro Taira, the fifth-ranked flyweight contender from Japan, fared no better despite landing eight takedowns and accumulating nearly 11 minutes of control time in his title challenge. The 26-year-old out of The Blackbelt Japan holds an 18-2-0 professional record and stands five-foot-seven with a 70-inch reach. Taira averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a submission attempt rate of 1.6 per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most persistent grapplers.
Why it matters
- Historically, fighters who land five or more takedowns in UFC title fights win 81 percent of the time, making two such losses on the same card a significant outlier.
- Both outcomes point to the limitations of wrestling-heavy strategies when factors such as weight cutting, fatigue, and accumulated damage erode effectiveness against elite strikers.
- Chimaev's loss at number one in the middleweight rankings will reshape the divisional picture considerably, while Taira's defeat stalls what had been a rapid rise through the flyweight contender ranks.
- The results reinforce that championship-level MMA demands well-rounded finishing ability beyond grappling volume alone.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
