Tag: Max Holloway

Alexander Volkanovski says he’ll finish Max Holloway in featherweight title rematch

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski says he would finish former champion Max Holloway if the pair met in a rematch.

Despite recent event cancellations, [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] still thinks a rematch with [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] is the fight to make.

A matchup between UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski (21-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and former champ Holloway (21-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) was almost finalized for the main event of UFC 251 on June 6 in Perth, Australia, before all scheduled UFC events were suspended indefinitely.

“It just wasn’t signed, but … I know I was happy with it, I’m pretty sure Max was happy with it. We just didn’t get it done probably because of what was happening,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “They didn’t want to lock nothing in if they didn’t know, but we still don’t really know exactly what’s happening but it’s not looking good. I’m not going to try and talk the fight up because right now there’s nothing happening but yeah, it was close.

“I know that’s the fight I wanted to have in Australia. I still think that’s the biggest fight for me. I still think it’s the biggest fight for the division. I still think it’s the biggest fight for the UFC, and if we could still make this Aussie card happen sometime this year, I believe that’s what the Australian fans deserve – a rematch, you know? Max was a great champion and I’ll prove myself once again in front of my home crowd.”

Volkanovski dethroned Holloway last December in a performance where he out-struck the Hawaiian and shut down his offense in a unanimous decision win.

But he thinks he can top that first performance by securing a finish in the rematch.

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“He’s a great fighter. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a fighter – so does my team,” Volkanovski said. “We gave him the respect he deserves. That’s why I had to go with that game plan. I still think I could have got the finish. I still believe that the finish is there. I still think if we fight again, I’ve got the feeling that I’m going to go out there and finish him inside the five (rounds), definitely.

“To go out there and shut Max like that and outstrike him is really setting a statement. If anyone knows the game, they know that not many people can actually go out there and do that. So that’s saying something. But I believe the next time we face, if that match happens, I’m finishing him inside the five, 100 hundred percent.”

After having to pull the plug on UFC 249, the promotion is targeting an event on May 9, and is looking to resume shows at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, as well as the proposed “Fight Island” that UFC president Dana White says should be ready by next month.

Volkanovski says he’s more than willing to compete on “Fight Island,” just as long as he’s able to head there early and get enough time to prepare.

“If this island thing is legit, and they can get me on this island to do my camp and then fight, I’m all for it,” Volkanovski said. “Give me a little camp there with my team, even if it’s the (City Kickboxing) boys, even if we’re all on the same card. We all do the camps with each other on the island, and then we fight – 100 percent I’ll be down for that. I think that will be unreal. But we just don’t know what’s happening.”

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House B, with Diaz brothers and Sean O’Malley, leads pack on MMA Junkie’s fighter house lockdown poll

House B seems to be a popular choice, wonder why…

Well, the people have spoken.

In a world where most of us have been told by their governments to practice social distancing and stay in our homes to help stop the spread of COVID-19,  MMA Junkie asked its reader which hypothetical fighter house they would rather spend lockdown in to ride out these tough times in the global pandemic.

The following houses were the options in play:

  • House A: [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], [autotag]Artem Lobov[/autotag], [autotag]Dillon Danis[/autotag]
  • House B: [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag], [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag], [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]
  • House C: [autotag]Demetrious Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]Quinton Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]
  • House D: [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], [autotag]Derrick Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]

From a deep dive into the comment section on MMA Junkie’s Instagram, House B seemed to be the post popular choice followed by House D, House C, and House A. Do you agree with the fan picks?

Below you can find our reader’s choices on which fighter house they would rather spend lockdown in:

The 10 winningest fighters in UFC history

MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 fighters with the most wins in UFC history.

With UFC on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, MMA Junkie takes a look at the 10 winningest fighters in the history of the organization. Of note, all fighters included in this column fight at light heavyweight or below and have promotional debuts ranging from September 1999 to February 2011.

* * * *

10. Stuck on 17

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Six fighters are tied at the 17-win mark inside the octagon: Former heavyweight champ [autotag]Andrei Arlovski[/autotag], former lightweight champ [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag], former featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag], former interim lightweight champ [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag], former middleweight champ [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] and lightweight contender [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag].

9. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]

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Age: 35

Debut: UFC 91 on Nov. 15, 2008

Number of fights: 29

Number of wins: 18

Dos Anjos was in the UFC nearly seven years before he finally captured the lightweight title. Since losing the belt, he’s spent his years in the welterweight division, adding more to his win total. He’s had some tough results of late but is still exclusively fighting top-tier competition.

8. [autotag]Matt Hughes[/autotag]

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Age: 46

Debut: UFC 22 on Sept. 24, 1999

Number of fights: 25

Number of wins: 18

Once considered the greatest welterweight in MMA history, Hughes debuted in the UFC nearly six years before anyone else on the list. The former welterweight champ still holds a top-10 spot, though, due to his dominant run in the 170-pound division though the mid-2000s.

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It is what it is: Max Holloway brings the sensibility on coronavirus precautions

Here’s a simple guideline for getting us all through the coronavirus pandemic safe and healthy: Be like Max Holloway.

The past several days have been one mentally exhausting stretch if you follow mixed martial arts.

MMA draws some of the smartest, funniest, sharpest minds you’ll ever come across in the sports world, bright people intrigued by both the human chess element of MMA and the complex personalities who participate.

Then there’s the other side of the coin: MMA draws its fair share of idiots, too. They’re not that big in number, but they’re really loud, and in times like this past weekend, that amplification makes them seem like a bigger percentage of the audience than they actually are.

So, predictably, once news started breaking last week that everyone aside from the UFC in professional sports was shutting its doors in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the segment of the fan base who proudly tell you things like, “Bro, I educated myself through YouTube and found out the earth is flat,” started calling those who pleaded for common sense”snowflakes” and insisted there was no danger in the UFC proceeding with shows.

Just when you thought it was time to give up hope, though, along comes [autotag] Max Holloway[/autotag] to the rescue, along with his son, Rush.

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The former UFC featherweight champion has long been acknowledged as one of the sport’s genuine good people, one of the fighters you want to have front and center when you’re trying to explain the good side of the sport to people who don’t understand it.

On Monday, right around the time the UFC finally came to its senses and pulled the plug on its upcoming schedule, Holloway and son dropped an outstanding post on Instagram explaining why social distancing and washing your hands will be good for everyone in the long run.

In short, it’s not about you, the young guy or gal who will shake this off with no major issues. It’s about protecting your mom and your grandma and your great-grandma.

Let’s hear it from Max himself:

I don’t think there’s a doc out there who would say COVID-19 is more dangerous than fighting for a living. I’m not afraid of it to be honest. It’s like the flu but 10x more deadly. So what? I put myself in more danger every day. So for anybody else who feels that way I agree.⁣
⁣
But I also learned it’s not about me. I can carry it. I can have no symptoms like Donovan Mitchell. Then I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn’t beat it. Then what? All my UFC title belts ain’t gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.⁣

And he’s got a word for those of you who are inexplicably buying enough toiler paper to last until 2112, too:

I know when the govt says “prepare but don’t panic” that basically screams panic. I get it. But none of us need 48 rolls of toilet paper… So if you know someone who may need supplies, we need to help them and share. But also remember we could already have it and not know, so be VERY careful?⁣

A final word from “Blessed,” who might not hold a UFC belt right now but is still in every other way a champ:

This isn’t practice. This is a fight. You guys know me. I love to take fights into deep waters. This isn’t one we want to take into deep waters. The quicker we can slow the spread the quicker we get back to normal 🤙🏻

So remember, if you’re trying to figure out how to respond in the face of the pandemic, and the choices are people in your Twitter comments telling you this is no big deal or Max Holloway, here’s a handy rule of thumb: Be like Max.

Check out his full Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram

I don't think there's a doc out there who would say COVID-19 is more dangerous than fighting for a living. I'm not afraid of it to be honest. It's like the flu but 10x more deadly. So what? I put myself in more danger every day. So for anybody else who feels that way I agree.⁣ ⁣ But I also learned it's not about me. I can carry it. I can have no symptoms like Donovan Mitchell. Then I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn't beat it. Then what? All my UFC title belts ain't gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.⁣ ⁣ Hawaii doesn't have that many hospital beds… If just a few hundred elderly need to be in ICU for treatment then what? What happens then when Sista Moki gets in a car accident and the ICU is already full? I don't know. Nobody does and we don't want to find out.⁣ ⁣ This isn't about most of us who could get it and beat it. It's about the people who won't beat it so we gotta make sure we do our part to protect them. Take the social distancing seriously. Pretend you already have it. Distance yourself to protect others AND yourself.⁣ ⁣ I know when the govt says "prepare but don't panic" that basically screams panic. I get it. But none of us need 48 rolls of toilet paper… So if you know someone who may need supplies, we need to help them and share. But also remember we could already have it and not know, so be VERY careful?⁣ ⁣ And if you see me in the store, smile, point to the ground if you one banga, but we don't need to take photos. Most people who go to the store in normal times probably only interact with one or two strangers. When I go anywhere I have hundreds of interactions, a lot of people come up to me. I'm a magnet for viruses. It's not good for your loved ones health for you to interact with me now. ⁣ ⁣ I promise when this is all over my team will do meet and greets so everyone who wants a photo or autograph can get one, so don't worry you will not be missing your chance. ⁣ ⁣ This isn't practice. This is a fight. You guys know me. I love to take fights into deep waters. This isn't one we want to take into deep waters. The quicker we can slow the spread the quicker we get back to normal 🤙🏻

A post shared by Max Holloway (@blessedmma) on

I don’t think there’s a doc out there who would say COVID-19 is more dangerous than fighting for a living. I’m not afraid of it to be honest. It’s like the flu but 10x more deadly. So what? I put myself in more danger every day. So for anybody else who feels that way I agree.⁣
⁣
But I also learned it’s not about me. I can carry it. I can have no symptoms like Donovan Mitchell. Then I can give it to my grandma and maybe she doesn’t beat it. Then what? All my UFC title belts ain’t gonna make me tough enough to deal with that responsibility.⁣
⁣
Hawaii doesn’t have that many hospital beds… If just a few hundred elderly need to be in ICU for treatment then what? What happens then when Sista Moki gets in a car accident and the ICU is already full? I don’t know. Nobody does and we don’t want to find out.⁣
⁣
This isn’t about most of us who could get it and beat it. It’s about the people who won’t beat it so we gotta make sure we do our part to protect them. Take the social distancing seriously. Pretend you already have it. Distance yourself to protect others AND yourself.⁣
⁣
I know when the govt says “prepare but don’t panic” that basically screams panic. I get it. But none of us need 48 rolls of toilet paper… So if you know someone who may need supplies, we need to help them and share. But also remember we could already have it and not know, so be VERY careful?⁣
⁣
And if you see me in the store, smile, point to the ground if you one banga, but we don’t need to take photos. Most people who go to the store in normal times probably only interact with one or two strangers. When I go anywhere I have hundreds of interactions, a lot of people come up to me. I’m a magnet for viruses. It’s not good for your loved ones health for you to interact with me now. ⁣
⁣
I promise when this is all over my team will do meet and greets so everyone who wants a photo or autograph can get one, so don’t worry you will not be missing your chance. ⁣
⁣
This isn’t practice. This is a fight. You guys know me. I love to take fights into deep waters. This isn’t one we want to take into deep waters. The quicker we can slow the spread the quicker we get back to normal 🤙🏻

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Alexander Volkanovski wants Max Holloway rematch at UFC 251, fires back at ‘Korean Zombie’

UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski is zeroing in on a rematch with Max Holloway at UFC 251.

LAS VEGAS – Featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] is zeroing in on a rematch with [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] on home soil at UFC 251.

Volkanovski (21-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is a likely candidate to headline the June 6 event in Perth, Australia, but said nothing is set in stone as of now. He’s in Las Vegas supporting teammate Israel Adesanya at UFC 248, and while in town expects to have a productive discussion with the UFC brass regarding the details of his next fight.

Although Volkanovski is still dealing with a lingering hand injury from when he beat Holloway (21-5 MMA, 17-5 UFC) by unanimous decision to take the title at UFC 245 in December, he said he will advance his recovery timeline to ensure he competes at the event. When looking at the lay of the land at 145 pounds, he thinks a second encounter with “Blessed” is most logical.

“Everyone knows I want to be on that card, and everyone knows that the UFC want me on that card, and a lot of people are saying they want Max, as well,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie on Friday. “I think the biggest fight would be Max. I think for the division, for myself, and for the UFC, that is probably the fight to make.”

A second option to Holloway as an opponent seemingly was Chan Sung Jung, but “The Korean Zombie” told MMA Junkie on Thursday that he’s still recovering from a recent eye surgery and his timeline doesn’t match up with the champ’s. That’s a fight that has potential to happen eventually, though, especially after the two crossed paths this week in “Sin City.”

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Jung said that he saw fear when he saw Volkanovski face-to-face, but Volkanovski said his retelling of events is inaccurate.

“He was respectful, so I don’t know if he’s still trying to play that card,” Volkanovski said. “Now there’s a camera in front of him, he says we were in each other’s face and we almost went to blows. Nah. We’re both pretty respectful guys. At the same time, he can say what he wants, and I’m sure the talk is going to keep going. If that fight does happen, I’m sure I’m going to do to him what I’ve done to everyone else.”

With Jung unavailable, there doesn’t appear to be any opponent more fitting than Holloway, who ran through the divisional rankings before his fight with Volkanovski. In the immediate fallout of UFC 245, Volkanovski distanced himself from the idea of fighting Holloway again right away. His tune has since changed, though, and he said the rematch is what he wants most.

“There’s no one else,” Volkanovski said. “I did win that fight convincingly. I believe I won all five (rounds), and a lot of people did believe that, as well. But at the same time, there’s no clear No. 1 contender. … Just to prove I’m the best featherweight in the world, and even to prove I’m the best featherweight of all time, I think I need to beat him again.

“I’m not the type to say I’m fighting for legacy and stuff, but for me right now, I think that puts me in a really good position – especially if I take him out. That will really solidify myself as one of the best in the division.”

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Max Holloway suggests UFC version of NBA’s All-Star Weekend for ‘International Fight Week’

Following the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, Max Holloway would like to see the UFC put on a similar event during “International Fight Week.”

[autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] may have just come up with a brilliant idea.

Following the 69th edition of the NBA’s mega successful All-Star Weekend, the former featherweight champion would like to see the UFC put on a similar event, perhaps during “International Fight Week.”

“Watching NBA all-star weekend and it’s always so sick. Got me wondering tho what can we do to add to international fight week? What’s our versions of dunk contest and 3 point contest? What skills challenges can we do? What celeb games can we do? Celebrity BJJ matches?”

We’ve recently seen grappling competition “Quintet Ultra” take place, which featured a cool concept of four different teams (UFC, Strikeforce, WEC and PRIDE) going at it on the mats.

And with the NBA carrying out a celebrity game, skills challenge, 3-point shootout, dunk contest, then All-Star game to cap off the weekend, Holloway joked: Why not have something like a cardio contest pitting him against former UFC interim champs Tony Ferguson and Colby Covington?

“Me Tony Colby on treadmills. You don’t wanna see who pukes first? Lol”

And of course, Tony Ferguson is the type of guy who would be game.

While the participation of Cub Swanson during “Quintet Ultra” resulted in a torn ACL, the idea from Holloway is not too far-fetched considering the growth of the sport in the entertainment factor, especially.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

‘Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight’ – Honolulu: Where the UFC boss has to admit defeat

“Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” is back, and scenic Hawaii serves as the latest backdrop for the online series.

“Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight” is back, and scenic Hawaii serves as the latest backdrop for the online series.

UFC president White hosts the series with former UFC champion [autotag]Matt Serra[/autotag] and MMA vet [autotag]Din Thomas[/autotag], using the show to search for future UFC talent, though there are plenty of pitstops along the way.

The crew visits Honolulu in the latest episode, with cameos from former UFC champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag], as well as women’s flyweight [autotag]Rachael Ostovich[/autotag], and an up-and-coming prospect secures a UFC deal. Here’s the full episode description, courtesy of the UFC:

UFC President Dana White, Hall of Famer Matt Serra and fighter-turned-coach Din Thomas head to The Aloha State, a longtime hub for mixed martial arts. The guys ride mopeds along the North Shore with UFC flyweight Rachael Ostovich, eat famous shave ice with former featherweight champion Max Holloway, pick pineapples, go flyboarding, and try to talk each other — and themselves — into cliff diving. Then they scout up-and-coming athletes at a Trinity Sport Combat event along with Holloway and his son Rush.

Check out the full episode above.

UFC in 2019: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

A full recap of 2019’s most significant footnotes and milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from UFC research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2019’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

* * * *

EVENTS

Octagon girls at UFC 238

The UFC held 42 events in 39 different cities across 15 countries and five continents.

Within those events, there were 516 fights across 13 different weight classes (including catchweight bouts).

Those 516 fights combined for a total cage time of 94:59:04.

The longest event of the year was “UFC on ESPN+ 19: Joanna vs. Waterson” in Tampa, Fla., at 2:57:27. It was the second longest in company history behind “UFC Fight Night 121: Werdum vs. Tybura” (3:04:18).

The shortest event of the year was “UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos” in Minneapolis at 1:38:12.

“UFC on ESPN+ 13: de Randamie vs. Ladd” featured 62 seconds of total fight time in the main and co-main event, the single-event record in company history.

At those events, the UFC drew an announced total attendance of 548,023 for a live gate total of $61,050,133.74 (Note: Live gate was not announced for 11 events; no attendance was revealed for one event).

The highest reported attended event of the year was “UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya” in Melbourne (57,127), which was the all-time company record, while the lowest attended event was “UFC on ESPN+ 20: Maia vs. Askren” in Singapore (7,155).

The highest reported income gate of the year was “UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz” in New York ($6,575,996.19) while the lowest reported income gate of the year went to “UFC on ESPN+ 4: Lewis vs. Dos Santos” in Wichita, Kan. ($636,417.26).

In 2019, 168 fight-night bonuses were given out for a sum of $8.4 million.

In 2019, athletes were paid $7,370,500 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance money.

The most knockouts at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos,” “UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz” and “UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington” with seven each.

Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Moraes

“UFC 238: Cejudo vs. Moraes” featured a total of 1,818 significant strikes landed, a new single-event record. UFC 231 held the previous high with 1,647.

The most submissions at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 5: Covington vs. Lawler” with five.

The most fights to go to a decision at a single event went to “UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” with 10.

“UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” featured nine consecutive decision results, tied for the single-event UFC record.

“UFC on ESPN 4: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards” started with nine consecutive decision results, the single-event record.

“UFC on ESPN 7: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik” marked the third event in company history to feature two draws. UFC 22 and UFC 216 were the others.

Betting favorites went 319-182. Fifteen fights ended in a draw, no contest or had even odds.

Betting favorites went 22-18 in event headliners. Two fights ended in a no contest or had even odds.

“UFC on ESPN 3: Ngannou vs. Dos Santos” and “UFC on ESPN+ 22: Blachowicz vs. Jacare” had the most favorites come through victorious, with 10 each. On the flip side, seven underdogs won at three separate events.

Aspen Ladd

A total of 30 fighters officially missed weight for their respective contests. The 28 fighters in that group to compete went 10-17-1 in their respective bouts.

A total of 135 fighters made their UFC debut in 2019. Those fighters went 57-74-2 with two no contests. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one bout of UFC experience went 43-58-2 with two no contests.

A variety of circumstances caused a total of 19 UFC main event or co-main event fights to be adjusted, postponed or canceled entirely.

One entire event was canceled (UFC 233 in January in Anaheim, Calif.)

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20 fight finishes that shaped the 2010s in MMA

This list is filled with shocking and sensational knockouts and submissions from the 2010s.

Given that my colleagues already have done a fantastic job of covering everything from the top fighters to the top moments of the decade, I figured I’d contribute to the retrospective content by examining some of the more memorable fight finishes from the last 10 years – parsing out technical trends and evolution while paying homage to performances that are worthy of the ole “Baba O’Riley” highlight reel.

As you’d hope with any maturing sport, the cultural fist-fighting phenomena that is MMA has improved from many perspectives.

Aside from the obvious growth of audience and accessibility, the quality of fighting, in general, has seen a sure-and-steady uptick since 2010 – particularly in the athleticism department. In fact, you could argue that one of the quiet benefits to the global expansion and corporate interest-era of this past decade is the increase in the level of athletes we’re seeing accumulate in MMA’s proverbial talent pools.

Not only have more Olympic medalists and collegiate athletes successfully made the jump to mixed martial arts, but we’ve also seen small countries like Surname or unassuming giants like China make their mark in regards to flexing their athletic powers. Coupled with the ever-growing index of techniques (from fighting to fight prep), and we’ve been privy to fighters – from all around the world – finding increasingly fun and explosive ways to finish fights.

Since it’s practically impossible to include all of the best fight finishes from the past 10 years, I decided to limit myself to 20 selections that I believe helped shape the state of fighting over the last 10 years.

Without further ado …

****

‘Shogun Rua’ knocks out Lyoto Machida

‘Shogun’ Rua and Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. (Getty Images)

Date: May 6, 2010
Event: UFC 113

With Frankie Edgar dethroning B.J. Penn just one month prior, the decade starts off with what are the beginnings of a trend in regards to “auras of invincibility” being shattered, as well as stylistic conundrums being figured out. And sure enough, after finishing the previous decade off with a sour decision at UFC 104, [autotag]Mauricio Rua[/autotag] exacted his revenge in 2010 by emphatically ending the undefeated streak of then-light heavyweight champion [autotag]Lyoto Machida[/autotag] at UFC 113.

Not only did Rua build off of his previous successes of low kicks and right hands to eventually find the crashing counter, but he also provided a useful blueprint for future fighters when it comes to dealing with karate stylists in mixed martial arts (see Douglas Lima vs. Michael Page or Anthony Pettis vs. Stephen Thompson).

Fabricio Werdum submits Fedor Emelianenko

Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko in 2010. (Getty Images)

Date: June 26, 2010
Event: Strikeforce/M-1 Global: “Fedor vs. Werdum”

As I mentioned, 2010 in MMA was essentially the first few seasons of “Game of Thrones” wrapped into one year in regards to watching our heroes fall.

[autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag], who finishes 2009 with a surprisingly competitive fight with Brett Rogers, starts off the decade with a rude reminder from [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] that the guard still works in mixed martial arts.

At this particular time in the sport, the jiu-jitsu guard was trending down both in popularity and proven application at the highest levels; therefore seeing someone like Fedor (of all people) falling into the grappling honeytrap was incredibly surprising. To Werdum’s credit, he masterfully played possum like an NBA player trying to draw an offensive foul, further placating Fedor’s strong sense of security from topside – something that ultimately cost the Russian his legendary winning streak.

Anderson Silva submits Chael Sonnen

Anderson Silva submits Chael Sonnen at UFC 117.

Date: Aug. 7, 2010
Event: UFC 117

It’s hard to forget fights that happen on your birthday, especially when it comes to classics like this one.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag], who had surprised me with his brand of promotional candor since his WEC victory over Bryan Baker, ended up surprising us all by backing up his words when taking on the great [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] at UFC 117.

After four-plus rounds of domination from Sonnen, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Silva was going by the wayside like Fedor, Penn and Machida had done months before him. However, despite being down on the scorecards (as well as sporting an injured rib), Silva shows off elite, clutch-player sensibilities that would make the likes of Michael Jordan or Reggie Miller proud, as the then-UFC champ secured a triangle-armbar submission in the fifth round that reminded us all there are no safe spaces in MMA so long as there’s time on the clock.

Edson Barboza TKOs Mike Lullo

Date: Nov. 20, 2010
Event: UFC 123

Legend bashing wasn’t the only thing going on in MMA back in 2010, as there were fighters like [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag] stepping onto the scene to help start/reinforce the trend of leg bashing.

Sure, the decade prior had a solid offering of leg kickers like Pedro Rizzo, Pat Barry and Antoni Hardonk, but it’s hard to ignore that those men were all heavyweights while Barboza – the only fighter to officially earn two leg-kick TKOs under the UFC banner – is a lightweight.

Of course, Jose Aldo’s domination over Urijah Faber at WEC 48 would’ve also been a great example to list if it fit the bill for a fight finish, but it’s ultimately hard to deny Barboza’s consistent commitment to killing his opposition with kicks, as well as his contributions toward this decade’s trend of attacking the legs.

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100 of the most fascinating UFC facts from the past decade

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.

Let’s dig into the archives.

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EVENT FEATS

Sajik Arena in South Korea

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.

Michael Bisping def. Luke Rockhold at UFC 199

“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.

Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes at UFC 238

“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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