A statistical anomaly occurred at UFC 328 when two fighters who landed eight or more takedowns in championship bouts both lost their fights. Historically, UFC fighters who complete five or more takedowns in title fights win 81.08% of the time, with that percentage rising to 83% for seven or more takedowns. Hamzat Chimaev landed nine takedowns and Tatsuro Taira landed eight, yet both were defeated. The analysis suggests that while elite wrestling provides an 80% win probability, total MMA well-roundedness remains superior, as wrestling is energy-intensive and highly dependent on health, weight cut, and other variables. Taira controlled Kai Kara-France for nearly 11 minutes but could never secure his signature back mount position despite multiple transitions.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
