An extremely rare statistical anomaly occurred at UFC 328 when two fighters both lost their title bouts despite securing 8 or more takedowns. Historically, UFC fighters who complete 5+ takedowns in championship fights win 81% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira recorded 9 and 8 takedowns respectively but both lost their championship contests. Taira particularly achieved high-quality takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time and full mount positions, yet was still finished by Kai Asakura. The post analyzes that despite elite wrestling remaining an 80% winning strategy, total versatility in fighting styles proves even more critical at the championship level, as wrestling is extremely energy-intensive and vulnerable to numerous variables like weight cutting issues, injuries, and cardio limitations.
One of the rarest statistical anomalies in UFC championship history unfolded at UFC 328 on May 9, when two fighters each recorded eight or more takedowns in title bouts and still walked away with losses.
Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound contender, landed nine takedowns in his championship contest yet could not secure the belt. Known as "Borz," the 32-year-old representing the UAE out of Allstars Training Center carries a 15-1-0 record and is one of the most relentless grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. His 60 percent striking accuracy further underlines how complete a fighter he is, making the defeat all the more striking from a statistical standpoint.
The second loss came in the flyweight division, where 26-year-old Japanese contender Tatsuro Taira suffered an even more improbable result. Ranked fifth at flyweight and representing The Blackbelt Japan, Taira holds an 18-2-0 record and averages 3.12 takedowns per 15 minutes — an elite rate for the division. At UFC 328 he recorded eight takedowns, generated nearly 11 minutes of control time, and worked to full mount positions, yet was still finished by Kai Asakura.
Why it matters
- Historically, UFC fighters who complete five or more takedowns in championship fights win approximately 81 percent of the time, rising to 83 percent with seven or more.
- Both losses suggest that elite wrestling, while an overwhelming statistical advantage, remains vulnerable to cardio limitations, weight-cut effects, and opponents with the finishing power to overcome positional deficits.
- The results reinforce that complete stylistic versatility may ultimately matter more than any single elite attribute at the championship level, even one as dominant as high-volume wrestling.
The twin outcomes represent a genuinely unprecedented combination in UFC title-fight history, challenging long-held assumptions about the near-automatic value of elite takedown volume in championship competition.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
