UFC 328 sees rare double occurrence of fighters losing despite 8+ takedowns

At UFC 328, a rare statistical anomaly occurred twice when fighters who landed eight or more takedowns in title fights ended up losing. Historically, fighters achieving five or more takedowns in UFC title fights win 81% of the time, with that percentage rising to 83% for seven or more takedowns. Khamzat Chimaev landed nine takedowns and Tatsuro Taira landed eight, both with significant control time, yet both lost their respective bouts. The results highlight that elite wrestling alone does not guarantee victory against well-rounded opponents. The analysis suggests that total versatility remains more reliable than wrestling dominance, especially when factors like weight cutting, injuries, or health issues affect performance. Chimaev showed potential as a more complete striker with his jab and power, while Taira could not secure his signature back mount position despite multiple takedowns.