UFC 328 sees rare occurrence: two fighters lose title fights despite 8+ takedowns

At UFC 328, an unusual statistical anomaly occurred twice as both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira lost their title fights despite landing 9 and 8 takedowns respectively. Historically, fighters who complete 5+ takedowns in UFC title fights win 81.08% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Taira particularly had quality takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time but was still finished. The analysis suggests this demonstrates that even elite wrestlers maintain roughly 80% win probability, but total well-roundedness is superior to specialization. Factors like weight cuts, injuries, and physical condition can dramatically shift outcomes against skilled strikers. The post argues that Chimaev should develop a more comprehensive striking game to complement his wrestling, noting he has the tools including good jabs, knockout power, and explosive speed.