UFC 328 Sees Rare Double Occurrence: Fighters With 8+ Takedowns Lose Title Fights

A rare statistical anomaly occurred twice at UFC 328, as fighters who completed 8 or more takedowns in title fights both lost their bouts. Historically, UFC fighters who land 5+ takedowns in title fights win 81.08% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Khamzat Chimaev landed 9 takedowns and Taku Taira completed 8 takedowns, yet both were defeated. Taira's takedowns were particularly effective with full ground control totaling nearly 11 minutes, yet Joshua Van never gave up his back and finished the Japanese fighter. The analysis suggests that while elite wrestling provides roughly 80% win probability, total mixed martial arts versatility remains superior, as wrestling is energy-intensive and heavily dependent on health factors such as weight cuts and injuries.