At UFC 328, an unusual statistical anomaly occurred twice in the same event. Both Khamzat Chimaev and Tatsuro Taira completed 8+ takedowns in their respective title fights yet lost their bouts. Historically, fighters who achieve 5+ takedowns in UFC title fights win 81.08% of the time, while those with 7+ takedowns win 83% of the time. Taira secured 8 takedowns with nearly 11 minutes of control time but was still finished by Joshua Van. Chimaev landed 9 takedowns but lost to Sean Strickland. The analysis suggests this demonstrates that while elite-level wrestling remains effective, total mixed martial arts universalism is superior, as wrestling is highly energy-intensive and vulnerable to factors like weight cuts, injuries, and opponent stylistic matchups that can dramatically shift win probabilities.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
