The third event of the UFC’s four-card August stretch on “Fight Island” takes place Saturday with UFC on ESPN+ 30 at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
A title-fight rematch takes place in the main event when the UFC takes a second attempt at crowning a new flyweight champion. [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will attempt to repeat his February knockout of [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) when they run it back, but this time Figueiredo hopefully will be eligible for the belt by making weight.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN+ 30.
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Main event
Figueiredo becomes the second Brazilian to fight for the UFC flyweight title. Wilson Reis also accomplished the feat.
Figueiredo has earned 15 of his 18 career victories by stoppage. That includes five of his UFC wins.
Figueiredo’s five stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for third most ind divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (seven) and Benavidez (six).
Figueiredo’s four knockout victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Benavidez (five).
Figueiredo’s six knockdowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind John Lineker (seven).
Figueiredo lands 52.5 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Figueiredo attempts 2.36 submissions per 15 minutes of fighting in UFC flyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Benavidez, 35, is the oldest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Benavidez, 35, can become the oldest fighter to claim a UFC title at welterweight or below.
Benavidez is one of seven fighters in UFC history to go 0-3 in title fights. Another loss would make him the lone fighter to go 0-4.
Benavidez competes in his 18th UFC flyweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Benavidez’s total fight time of 3:10:24 in UFC flyweight competition is second most in divisional history behind Johnson (4:39:12).
Benavidez’s 13 victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied with Johnson for most in divisional history.
Benavidez’s six stoppage victories in UFC flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Johnson (seven).
Benavidez’s six knockdowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Lineker (seven).
Benavidez’s five knockout victories in UFC flyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Benavidez’s four fight-night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are second most in divisional history behind Johnson (nine).
Co-main event
[autotag]Jack Hermansson[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has earned 16 of his 20 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his seven UFC wins.
Hermansson lands 5.13 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Paulo Costa (8.43) and Martin Kampmann (5.35).
Hermansson has the highest significant strike differential rate in UFC middleweight history (+2.87).
Hermansson landed 148 significant strikes against Ronaldo Souza at UFC on ESPN+ 8, the most in a five-round UFC middleweight fight.
[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) is 4-3 (with one no contest) since he moved up to the UFC middleweight division in December 2016. He’s 5-3 (with one no contest) overall at 185 pounds.
Preliminary card
[autotag]Joe Duffy[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2017.
Duffy has earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 13 opponents in the first round and eight in less than two minutes each.
[autotag]Joel Alvarez[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned all 16 of his career victories by stoppage.
[autotag]Brett Johns[/autotag] (16-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned one of two calf-slicer submissions in UFC history. Charles Oliveira also accomplished the feat.
Johns’ 30-second submission of Joe Soto at the TUF 26 Finale was second fastest in UFC/WEC combined bantamweight history behind Patrick Williams’ 23-second finish at UFC 188.
[autotag]Montel Jackson[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) submission victory at 1:40 of Round 1 at UFC 232 is the second fastest D’Arce choke finish in UFC history. Only Chas Skelly’s 19-second win at UFC Fight Night 94 was faster.
[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), 23, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
[autotag]Carlos Felipe[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since May 20, 2017. The 1,155-day layoff is the longest of his nearly six-year career.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
