UFC 328 sees rare double occurrence of fighters losing title bouts despite 8+ takedowns

At UFC 328, a statistical rarity occurred twice as fighters who completed eight or more takedowns in title fights still lost their bouts. Historically, UFC fighters landing five or more takedowns in championship fights win 81.08% of the time, while those landing seven or more win 83% of the time. Both Khamzat Chimaev and Taiyo Taira defied these odds, with Chimaev completing nine takedowns and Taira eight, yet both suffered defeats. Taira particularly controlled nearly 11 minutes with quality takedowns and full guard positions before being finished. The results highlight that while elite wrestling provides an 80% win probability, total mixed martial arts skills and circumstances like weight cuts, injuries, and conditioning remain crucial factors in championship outcomes.