A rare statistical occurrence happened twice at UFC 328 when fighters who completed 8 or more takedowns in title fights still lost. Historically, UFC fighters who land 5 or more takedowns in championship bouts win 81% of the time, while those landing 7 or more win 83% of the time. Chimaev landed 9 takedowns and Taira landed 8 with nearly 11 minutes of control time, yet both were defeated. The analysis suggests this highlights the importance of being a complete mixed martial artist rather than relying solely on wrestling, as wrestling is energy-intensive and highly dependent on weight cutting, injuries, and other circumstances. The post argues that fighters like Chimaev, despite strong wrestling, need to develop more comprehensive striking skills including better footwork, low kicks, and setups to be truly dominant.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
