Chimaev and Taira both lose UFC 328 title fights despite 8+ takedowns

A rare occurrence happened twice at UFC 328 as fighters who secured 8+ takedowns in championship bouts both lost their fights. Historically, fighters who land 5+ takedowns in UFC title fights win 81.08% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Khamzat Chimaev landed 9 takedowns and Tatsuro Taira secured 8 takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet both were defeated. The analysis suggests that while elite wrestlers maintain an 80% win probability, total well-roundedness remains superior, as wrestling is energy-intensive and highly dependent on health, weight cut, and circumstances. The post emphasizes that strikers with universal skills can exploit wrestlers who aren't at full strength or who rely too heavily on grappling alone.