UFC 247: Derrick Lewis at UFC Athlete Panel
UFC 247: Derrick Lewis at UFC Athlete Panel
UFC 247: Derrick Lewis at UFC Athlete Panel
Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
UFC 247: Derrick Lewis at UFC Athlete Panel
UFC 247: Derrick Lewis at UFC Athlete Panel
The best facts and figures about UFC 247, which features a Jon Jones vs. Dominick Reyes title-fight main event.
UFC action resumes Saturday with UFC 247, which takes place at Toyota Center in Houston with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
A championship doubleheader sits atop the card. In the main event, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) puts his light heavyweight title on the line against [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). The co-headliner sees women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meet [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind those title fights, as well as the rest of the 12-bout lineup, check below for 50 pre-event facts about UFC 247.
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Jones owns or is on the verge of owning numerous key UFC records. Check out his complete stat sheet to see where he stands in company history.
Reyes’ six-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Reyes has earned nine of his 12 career victories by first-round stoppage.
Reyes lands 5.03 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the third rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Ion Cutelaba (5.27) and Aleksander Rakic (5.17).
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Reyes outlands his opponents by a +2.79 margin in significant strikes per minute, the second best rate in divisional history behind Alessio Sakara (3.24).
Reyes’ 29-second knockout of Joachim Christensen are UFC Fight Night 112 marked the second fastest stoppage by any debuting light-heavyweight in UFC history behind Ryan Jimmo’s seven-second win at UFC 149.
Reyes defends 84 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Jones (95 percent).
Shevchenko is one of two women’s flyweight champions in UFC history. Nicco Montano also accomplished the feat.
Shevchenko’s two consecutive UFC women’s flyweight title defenses are most in divisional history.
Shevchenko is one of seven fighters in history to end a UFC title fight with a knockout stemming from a head kick. She accomplished the feat at UFC 238. Amanda Nunes, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Renan Barao, Holly Holm and T.J. Dillashaw are the others.
Shevchenko is 4-0 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in February 2018.
Shevchenko’s four-fight UFC winning streak at women’s flyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Shevchenko’s four victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with four others for most in divisional history.
Shevchenko has completed at least one takedown against eight of her nine UFC opponents.
Shevchenko and Liz Carmouche combined for 60 significant strikes landed at UFC on ESPN+ 14, the third fewest in a modern-era UFC title fight that went all five rounds. Only Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca (41) and Demetrious Johnson vs. Tim Elliott (52) had less.
Shevchenko outlanded Priscila Cachoeira 230-3 in total strikes at UFC Fight Night 125, the largest disparity in UFC women’s history.
Shevchenko’s two fight-night bonuses for UFC women’s flyweight bouts are most in divisional history.
Shevchenko has suffered both of her UFC losses to women’s bantamweight and featherweight champ Nunes.
Chookagian competes in her sixth UFC women’s flyweight bout, tied with Gillian Robertson and Roxanne Modafferi for most appearances in divisional history.
Chookagian is to 4-1 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in January 2018.
Chookagian’s four victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Valentina Shevchenko, Joanne Calderwood and Gillian Robertson for most in divisional history.
Chookagian has earned 10 of her 13 career victories by decision. That includes all six of her UFC wins.
Chookagian defends 63.6 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC women’s flyweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
[autotag]Juan Adams[/autotag] (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career on a five-fight winning streak.
[autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) absorbs 1.70 significant strikes per minute in UFC featherweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Rani Yahya (1.05).
Bektic completes 53.1 of his takedown attempts in UFC featherweight competition, the third highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Zubaira Tukhugov (57.5 percent) and Zabit Magomedsharipov (56.3 percent).
Bektic has completed at least two takedowns against five of his seven UFC opponents.
[autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]’s (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak in featherweight competition is tied for the fourth longest active streak behind Arnold Allen (seven), Zabit Magomedsharipov (six) and Alexander Volkanovski (six).
Ige lands 50.6 of his significant strike attempts in UFC featherweight competition, the third best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Volkanovski (56.3 percent) and Dooho Choi (51.2 percent).
[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) makes his 19th UFC heavyweight appearance since 2014, the most in the division and second most fights on the roster behind Donald Cerrone (23).
Lewis’ 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (17), Frank Mir (16) and Junior Dos Santos (15).
Lewis’ 10 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind Mir (13), Arlovski (11), Gabriel Gonzaga (11) and Stefan Struve (11).
Lewis’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez for most in divisional history.
Lewis’ 10 knockout victories in UFC competition since 2014 are second most among active fighters in the organization behind Thiago Santos (11).
Lewis’ six knockouts stemming from ground strikes in UFC competition are tied with Randy Couture for second most in company history behind Velasquez (eight).
Lewis is the only fighter in history to have his first eight UFC fights end in a knockout.
Lewis’ knockout of Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 despite a -82 significant strike differential marked the greatest statistical striking comeback in UFC history.
Lewis and Francis Ngannou combined for 31 total strikes landed at UFC 226, the second fewest in a three-round UFC fight that went the distance behind Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque (23) at UFC 26 in June 2000.
[autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) moves up to the UFC heavyweight division after spending his first 12 promotional appearances at light heavyweight. His 12 light heavyweight bouts are the most for any fighter in UFC history
Latifi enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
Latifi is one of four light heavyweights in UFC history to earn two stoppage victories in less than one minute each. Volkan Oezdemir, Johnny Walker and Anthony Johnson also accomplished the feat.
Latifi’s fight vs. Cyrille Diabate at UFC Fight Night 37 marked the first fight in UFC history to feature zero combined significant strike attempts.
[autotag]Trevin Giles[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 11-0.
Giles is 1-2 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in December 2017.
[autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC), 36, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event. Lauren Murphy is a single day older.
Murphy has alternated wins and losses over her past seven fights. She was victorious in her most recent bout at UFC on ESPN 5 in August.
Murphy is 2-1 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in December 2017.
Murphy is one of five female fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a knee strike. She accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 5.
[autotag]Youssef Zalal[/autotag] (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Ahead of UFC 247 in Houston, you can watch a live video stream of a special athlete panel featuring six of the top fighters on the card.
HOUSTON – Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 247 in Houston, you can watch a live video stream of a special athlete panel featuring six of the top fighters on the card.
The athlete panel, hosted by UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik, takes place at The Ballroom at Bayou Place at 500 Texas Ave. in Houston. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open to the public at 5 p.m. CT, and the panel is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Anik will talk to light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), women’s flyweight title challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and heavyweight [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC) first.
Then he’ll speak with light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC), women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and Houston’s own [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in the second session.
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UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Check out a video stream of the athlete panel above.
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Ahead of his return at UFC 247, relive Derrick Lewis’s finish over Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 126.
[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] displayed his power in full force when he started his 2018 campaign for a heavyweight title shot with a crowd-pleasing finish.
After having his six-fight winning streak snapped at the hands of Mark Hunt, Lewis (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) looked to rebound when he faced Marcin Tybura in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 18, 2018.
Early in Round 1, Lewis was able to use his full force by pushing Tybura down to the mat. After controlling top position, Lewis tried to latch on to Tybura’s back as he made his way up, but ended up losing his position and his footing and ended up on the bottom.
Tybura was easily able to transition to full mount, then take Lewis’ back. But Lewis shook him off and met him with a big right hand that sent him back to the canvas. Tybura smartly reversed position on the mat to end up in full mount as the round came to a close.
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In Round 2, Tybura took things straight back to the mat and achieved dominant positions once again as he took Lewis’s back, then transitioned to full mount. Once again, however, the Houston native was able to survive Tybura’s grappling attack and took the fight into the final round.
With the words of his corner still ringing in his ears, Lewis started the final frame knowing he needed a finish. Tybura came out pressing forward, and proceeded to clinch and work for a takedown. A visibly tired Lewis defended well and managed to gain separation before unloading with a powerful combination that rocked Tybura. He then finished him in dramatic fashion to secure a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
The victory put Lewis back in the win column in a big way and kickstarted a run of form that saw him defeat Francis Ngannou and Alexander Volkov to earn a shot with then-UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
The title fight didn’t go Lewis’ way, however, and after his submission loss, he was stopped by former champion Junior Dos Santos. He avoided a three-fight losing skid by narrowly edging Blagoy Ivanov at UFC 244 and now will look to kick off another winning streak by welcoming Swedish veteran Ilir Latifi to the heavyweight division at UFC 247, which takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Ahead of that fight, check out the video above to watch Lewis’ “Performance of the Night” finish over Tybura.
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We want your predictions for UFC 247 in Houston, featuring Jon Jones-Dominick Reyes and Valentina Shevchenko-Katlyn Chookagian title fights.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 247 event in Houston.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 247 event staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
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If you’re heading to Houston for a pair of title fights this week, or are from the area, there are several events you can attend for free.
If you’re heading to Houston to catch a pair of title fights this week, or are from the area, there are several events you can attend for free.
UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
In the main event, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) returns after seven months off for his latest title defense. He meets the unbeaten [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the headliner.
In the co-feature, women’s flyweight champ [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is a massive favorite of as much as 14-1 against challenger [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in their title fight.
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Prior to the event, fans can attend a pre-fight athlete panel featuring the title fighters, plus Houston’s own [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) and his heavyweight opponent, [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC).
The athlete panel, hosted by UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik, takes place at The Ballroom at Bayou Place at 500 Texas Ave. in Houston. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open to the public at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the panel is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Anik will talk to Reyes, Chookagian and Latifi first, then Jones, Shevchenko and Lewis in the second session.
Thursday, fans can attend a gym day at Renzo Gracie’s facility at 14555 West Lake Houston in Houston. Doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. CT and will feature [autotag]Alex Hernandez[/autotag], [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag], [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] and “BMF” titleholder [autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag].
Friday, ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans take place at Toyota Center with a news conference for UFC 248 beforehand. Doors open for the public at 3:30 p.m. CT. The UFC 248 press conference starts at 4 p.m. The ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs between the fighters go down at 5 p.m.
The UFC 247 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)
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Derrick Lewis returns Saturday at UFC 247 for a home fight in Texas, which historically has worked out quite nicely for him.
[autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] returns Saturday for a home fight, which historically has worked out quite nicely for him.
Lewis (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) opens up the UFC 247 main card in a heavyweight tussle with Ilir Latifi (14-7 MMA, 7-5 UFC). Throughout his career, Lewis is 9-0 when he fights in Texas, where he’s lived since he was in his early teens. Against Latifi, he’ll be looking to make it a perfect 10, including 3-0 in UFC fights in the state.
UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
This past November, Lewis got back in the win column after the first two-fight skid of his career. He lost a title shot to then-champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 230 in November 2018, then was stopped by former champ Junior Dos Santos with a second-round TKO in March 2019. But at UFC 244, he got past Blagoy Ivanov with a split decision.
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Saturday, there’s little doubt he’ll be hoping to return to his finishing ways. Of his 13 wins in the UFC, 10 have come by knockout, including a stretch of around 18 months that saw him get five of six wins courtesy of his hands.
Ahead of UFC 247, in his home city of Houston, take a look at seven of Lewis’ best knockout finishes in the UFC in the video above. How do you think he’ll fare against Latifi? Weigh in below in our poll.
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Check out the official lineup and broadcast plans for UFC 247, which takes place Feb. 8 in Houston.
UFC 247 will feature a championship double-header as two of the promotion’s most dominant champions get top billing.
UFC 247 takes place Feb. 8 at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
The main event features UFC light heavyweight champ [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) putting his title on the line against yet another young and hungry contender in undefeated [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).
In the co-main event, UFC women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] (18-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will attempt to make her third title defense, when she faces [autotag]Katlyn Chookagian[/autotag] (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC).
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The card also will feature [autotag]Ilir Latifi[/autotag]’s heavyweight debut vs. the “Black Beast” [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], a matchup between featherweight prospects in [autotag]Mirsad Bektic[/autotag] and [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag], and bantamweights [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag] and [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag], who look to break into 135-pound title contention.
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When Derrick Lewis fights Ilir Latifi at UFC 247, it won’t be the first time he’s squared off with a member of ATT.
When [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag] takes on Ilir Latifi at UFC 247, it won’t be the first time he’s squared off with a member of American Top Team.
In 2015, Lewis took on then-ATT heavyweight Shawn Jordan. At UFC on ESPN+ 4 this past March, he fought former heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos.
Lewis’ history with the Florida-based gym extends outside of competition, however. ATT fighters like Greg Hardy have also exchanged words with Lewis, leading “The Black Beast” to believe the MMA faction is out to get him.
“I’m guessing (Latifi called for a fight with me) because I heard he’s training at American Top Team,” Lewis said in a recent interview with “UFC Unfiltered.”. “All of those guys have been calling me out left and right. Just about everybody over there – Greg Hardy, him, Junior Dos Santos. What’s the other guy’s name – the crazy one that just fought? Colby … They got a hit out on me.”
“Even Shawn Jordan (was) over there, too. They’ve been training for me for years – all their guys. Just about every guy over there I’ve fought already. They feel like they’ve got the recipe out on me.”
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So why does Lewis believe he’s been a target for ATT fighters?
“They look at me like the weakest in the top-five – a more easy fight for them,” Lewis said. “That’s how I look at it.”
As for the upcoming Feb. 8 matchup, Lewis pointed out the expected size differential between him and Latifi. The 5-foot-8 Swedish fighter will move up from light heavyweight to make his divisional debut in Houston.
“I believe he’s just a small guy,” Lewis said. “I’ve fought small guys before. He’s probably going to be the smallest heavyweight I’ve fought in a long time. He’s an explosive guy and a great wrestler, so I’ve still got to be prepared for anywhere the fight goes.”
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While Latifi is getting heavier, Lewis indicated he’s actually been getting lighter. The days of cutting 25 pounds to hit the heavyweight limit are no longer.
“I lost 20 pounds in two months,” Lewis said. “I’m feeling healthier than I’ve ever felt, as well. I really don’t have to cut to make heavyweight no more. I was cutting all the way from 290 to 265.”
UFC 247 takes place at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view, following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+
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Some of the most significant in-fight moments and records in UFC history have occurred and been etched in stone over the past decade.
The past decade of UFC action has seen a lot unfold, and it is arguably the most important in the organization’s history from in terms of evolution.
Only within this era have statistics truly come to the forefront. After so many years of fights, the groundwork for what’s viewed as meaningful and the history attached has finally been laid out. The athletes and techniques have evolved, too, meaning new methods of causing damage and finishing fights are attempted and pulled off with a higher rate of frequency.
That evolution is apparent in the history books, because some of the most significant moments and records in UFC history have occurred over this past decade.
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The UFC held 363 events in 159 difference venues across 26 countries over the past decade.
“UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in October 2019 had the highest announced attendance in company history at 57,127.
“UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” in November 2016 sold a largest live gate in company history at $17.7 million.
“UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” in November 2017 had the most total fight time of any event in company history at 3 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds.
“UFC Fight Night 55:: Rockhold vs. Bisping” in November 2014 had the least total fight time of those events at 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
The UFC canceled four events over the decade: UFC 151 in September 2012; UFC 176 in August 2014; UFC Fight Night 97 in October 2016 and UFC 233 in January 2019.
“UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping” and “UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” in May 2018 each featured 11 stoppage results, the most for any card in company history.
“UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez” in April 2013, “UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Miller” in July 2014, “UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2,” in June 2016 and “UFC 218: Holloway vs. Aldo 2” in December 2017 each featured eight knockout results, the most of the decade.
“UFC on FUEL TV 10: Werdum vs. Nogueira” in June 2013 featured eight submission results, the most for any card in company history.
Seven events each featured 10 decision results, the most for any card in company history.
“UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” in July 2018 and “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” each featured nine consecutive decision results, the longest streak on a card in company history.
“UFC Fight Night 79: Henderson vs. Masvidal” in November 2015 and “UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya” in March 2018 each featured five split-decision results, the most for any card in company history.
“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” in June 2019 featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta” in April 2018 featured seven fighters who landed 100 or more significant strikes, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” in June 2016 featured 15 knockdowns, a single-event record for the company.
“UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor” in July 2015 was the only event in company history to feature two knockouts stemming from flying knee strikes.
“UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till” in September 2018 was the only event in company history to feature two kneebar submission results.
“UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre” in November 2017 marked the only event in history to feature three title changes.
Next page: General feats
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