UFC 328 sees rare double upset: Fighters with 8+ takedowns lose title bouts

UFC 328 witnessed a rare statistical anomaly as both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira lost their title fights despite landing 9 and 8 takedowns respectively. Historically, fighters who land 5+ takedowns in UFC title fights win 81% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of cases. Taira in particular had strong takedowns with full mounts and nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet was still finished. The post analyzes that while elite wrestlers maintain 80% win probability, total universalism in skillset remains superior. Factors like weight cut issues, injuries, location, and opponent's striking versatility can dramatically shift those odds against even dominant wrestlers.