At UFC 328, both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira became rare cases of fighters losing title bouts despite landing 8+ takedowns. Chimaev landed nine takedowns while Taira secured eight, with Taira also recording nearly 11 minutes of control time. Historically, UFC fighters who land 5+ takedowns in title fights win 81% of the time, while those landing 7+ win 83% of the time. The results highlight that even elite-level wrestling does not guarantee victory against well-rounded opponents. The post suggests that total universalism in skillset trumps even dominant wrestling when factors like weight cutting, health, and opponent preparation align against the grappler.
UFC 328 produced a statistical anomaly on Saturday night when both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira lost their respective title fights despite each landing a remarkable number of takedowns — outcomes that cut against some of the strongest winning percentages in championship-bout history.
Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter in the world, entered his title challenge with a 15-1 record and one of the most imposing wrestling resumes in the division. The 32-year-old representing the UAE and Allstars Training Center averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at 60 percent accuracy. He managed nine takedowns on the night and still came away without the belt.
Taira's defeat was equally striking on paper. The 26-year-old Japanese flyweight, ranked fifth in the division and fighting out of The Blackbelt Japan, carries a 3.12 takedown average per 15 minutes and came into the bout at 18-1. He secured eight takedowns and logged nearly 11 minutes of control time against champion Joshua Van — and still could not claim the title. Van, the 24-year-old flyweight champion from Myanmar, offsets modest grappling output with an extraordinary striking rate of 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- UFC fighters who land 7 or more takedowns in title fights win 83 percent of the time, making both losses historically rare
- Van's elite striking volume appears to have neutralized Taira's grappling edge, underlining how high-output offense can offset control time
- Chimaev remains the top-ranked middleweight contender at 15-1, leaving the division's title picture unsettled
- Both results reinforce that well-rounded championship opponents can dismantle single-dimension game plans regardless of how cleanly that plan is executed
Saturday, May 9, 2026
