A rare occurrence happened twice at UFC 328 when fighters who landed 8 or more takedowns in title fights lost their bouts. Historically, UFC fighters who land 5+ takedowns in title fights win 81% of the time, while those landing 7+ win 83% of the time. Khamzat Chimaev landed 9 takedowns and Tatsuro Taira landed 8 with nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet both were defeated. The analysis suggests this demonstrates the value of complete mixed martial arts skills over specialization in wrestling alone. Despite strong grappling performances, both fighters were outperformed by more well-rounded strikers.
Two of the most striking grappling performances in recent UFC title fight history ended in defeat at UFC 328 on May 9, as both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira were beaten despite landing a combined 17 takedowns between them across their respective championship bouts.
Chimaev, known as "Borz," entered his middleweight title fight ranked first in the division and tenth pound-for-pound, carrying a 15-1-0 record and one of the most fearsome wrestling resumes in the sport. The 32-year-old fighting out of the United Arab Emirates averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.04 per minute with 60 percent accuracy. At UFC 328 he surpassed his own standards, recording nine takedowns — and still came away without the belt.
Taira's performance was equally eye-catching. The 26-year-old Japanese flyweight, ranked fifth in his division, brought an 18-2-0 record and a grappling-heavy style built around 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He landed eight takedowns and accumulated nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet was unable to convert that dominance into a title victory.
Why it matters
- Historical UFC data shows fighters landing 5 or more takedowns in title fights win 81 percent of the time, and those landing 7 or more win 83 percent — making both losses statistical outliers.
- Both defeats point to the limits of grappling specialization at the championship level, where more complete strikers were able to overcome significant takedown deficits.
- The results carry immediate divisional weight: Chimaev's first ranking setback at middleweight reshapes the contender picture, while Taira's loss stalls what had been a rapid rise through the flyweight ranks.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
