UFC 328 sees rare stat: two fighters lose title fights despite 8+ takedowns

UFC 328 featured an unusual statistical occurrence that happened twice on the same card. Both Hamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira recorded 8+ takedowns in their respective title fights yet still lost their bouts. Historically, UFC fighters who land 5+ takedowns in championship fights win 81.08% of the time, while those landing 7+ win 83% of the time. Chimaev landed 9 takedowns while Taira secured 8 with nearly 11 minutes of control time, but both were defeated. The analysis suggests this highlights the importance of complete mixed martial arts skill sets rather than relying solely on wrestling, as factors like weight cutting, injuries, and opponent preparation can dramatically shift outcomes even for elite grapplers.