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

UFC 328 featured a rare statistical anomaly when two fighters lost their title fights despite landing eight or more takedowns. Historically, UFC fighters who secure 5+ takedowns in title bouts win 81% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Khamzat Chimaev landed nine takedowns against Sean Strickland, while Tatsuro Taira secured eight takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time against Kai Asakura, yet both lost their respective championship fights. The post analyzes how this demonstrates that elite wrestling alone isn't sufficient against complete mixed martial artists, particularly when factors like weight cutting, injuries, or timing issues affect performance. The author suggests Chimaev should develop more well-rounded striking skills to complement his wrestling.