UFC 328 featured an unusual statistical anomaly occurring twice on the same card. Historically, fighters who complete 5+ takedowns in title fights win 81% of the time, and those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. However, both Khamzat Chimaev (9 takedowns) and Tatsuro Taira (8 takedowns) lost their fights despite these high numbers. Taira particularly had quality takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time but was still finished by Joshua Van. The analysis suggests that while elite wrestlers maintain strong winning percentages, total universalism is superior because wrestling is energy-intensive and highly dependent on health, weight cut, and circumstances. The post notes that Chimaev showed cardio for striking and potential as a more well-rounded fighter, suggesting he could benefit from developing his striking game further with a dedicated striking coach.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
