Vinc Pichel showed that Jim Miller isn’t the only older guy in the UFC who can do good work on the mat.
Veteran [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] has been on an amazing run over the past couple years. Already the holder of the most UFC lightweight wins (17), he made his promotional record 36th appearance Saturday night, his fifth fight in the past 17 months.
Problem was, this time around, he fought someone a year older and much less heralded in 37-year-old [autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] at UFC 252.
Competing for the first time in a year, Pichel fought like a man with something to prove, beating Miller (32-15 MMA, 21-14 UFC) at his own game by out-grappling him over the second and third rounds to earn a unanimous decision in the featured prelim bout at the UFC Apex. The judges scores were 29-28, 29-28 and 29-27.
“Jim was a tough, tough dude. That was a pretty tough fight,” Pichel said. “You know I’m not easy to take down. I was on top of my game tonight.”
Miller looked at the top of his game in the opening round, and he pushed the pace and wasted little time looking for the takedown. That happened near the round’s midpoint, when he whiffed on a Superman punch but immediately transitioned into a single leg and got the takedown. From there, Miller spent the rest of the round working for finishes, from a guillotine to a Peruvian necktie to a heel hook at the end of the round, but never quite got there.
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But Pichel made adjustments in the second as it became apparent he was stronger and had more gas in the tank. Miller ate a head kick and turned it into a takedown, but this time Pichel ended up in top position. While he didn’t come close to a finish, he stymied Miller while continuously improving his position.
The third was a well-contested affair that saw both competitors have their moments in a round mostly on the mat. The fight’s outcome was likely still in the balance in the final minute. Miller went for a guillotine, but Pichel escaped, and his offense over the round’s closing seconds just might have won the decision.
Miller now has dropped two of his past three, while Pichel has won two straight and six of seven.
The lightweight bout closed out the UFC 252 preliminary card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 252 results include:
Vinc Pichel def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
The best facts and figures about UFC 252, which features a Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier heavyweight title trilogy in the main event.
The UFC returns to pay-per-view Saturday with UFC 252. The five-fight lineup follows prelims on ESPN and ESPN+ and goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
A pivotal moment in the sport’s history will unfold in the main event as UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and former two-division titleholder [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] (22-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) will clash for the third and final time. The winner not only will have the belt and bragging rights for winning the trilogy, but they’ll also carry the distinction of greatest heavyweight in UFC history, according to UFC president Dana White.
Miocic and Cormier both bring extraordinary and decorated resumes to the octagon. For more on the numbers behind their fight, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 60 pre-event facts about UFC 252.
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Main event
Stipe Miocic
Miocic becomes the first in history to face the same opponent in three consecutive UFC fights.
Miocic is one of four heavyweight champions in UFC history to have multiple reigns.
Miocic’s five UFC heavyweight title fight victories are tied with Tim Sylvia for second most in divisional history behind Randy Couture (six).
Miocic’s three consecutive UFC heavyweight title defense during his first reign were the most of any champion in divisional history.
Miocic’s 13 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fifth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (18), Frank Mir (16), Junior Dos Santos (15) and Derrick Lewis (15).
Miocic’s nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (11), Dos Santos (10) and Cain Velasquez (10).
Miocic’s stoppage victory at UFC 241 despite a -58 significant strike deficit is the second largest comeback in a UFC title fight behind Anderson Silva’s win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 (-60).
Miocic and Cormier combined for 304 significant strikes landed at UFC 241, the single-fight record for a UFC heavyweight fight.
Miocic’s nine fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are the most in divisional history.
Daniel Cormier
Cormier is one of four simultaneous two-division champions in UFC history. Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of seven two-division champions in UFC history. McGregor, Nunes, Cejudo, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of three fighters in UFC history to record successful title defenses in two weight classes. Cejudo an Nunes also accomplished the feat.
Cormier is one of five fighters in UFC history to win a belt while coming off a loss. He accomplished the feat against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187.
Cormier is one of two fighters in UFC history to win two title fights following a loss or no-contest. Couture also accomplished the feat.
Cormier competes in the 17th heavyweight bout of his career. He’s 15-1 overall in the weight class.
Cormier lands 62.9 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Alistair Overeem (74 percent) and Anthony Hamilton (65.6 percent).
Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson combined for 260 significant strikes at UFC 192, a single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.
Cormier’s 140 significant strikes landed against Gustafsson are second most in a UFC light-heavyweight bout behind Cyrille Diabate’s 146 at UFC on VERSUS 3.
Cormier is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from the crucifix position. He accomplished the feat at UFC 220.
Cormier is 9-0 in his career when he lands at least two takedowns in a fight.
Cormier has spent just 12 seconds in bottom position in UFC heavyweight competition, the least in divisional history for anyone with at least five fights.
Co-main event
[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]’s (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Petr Yan (seven) Aljamain Sterling (five) and Marlon Vera (five).
Marlon Vera’s (15-6-1 MMA, 9-5 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Sterling for the second longest active streak in the division behind Yan (seven).
Vera has earned eight of his nine UFC victories by stoppage.
Vera’s seven stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied with Urijah Faber for second most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (eight).
Vera’s four submission victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Faber (six) and Rani Yahya (five).
Featured bout
Junior Dos Santos
[autotag]Junior Dos Santos[/autotag] (21-7 MMA, 15-6 UFC) enters the event on the first losing skid of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since March 2019.
Dos Santos’ total fight time of 3:50:40 in UFC heavyweight competition is second most in company history behind Arlovski (4:48:42).
Dos Santos’ 15 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Arlovski (17) and Mir (16).
Dos Santos’ 10 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Velasquez for second most in divisional history behind Lewis (11).
Dos Santos’ 14 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos has landed 1,075 significant strikes in UFC heavyweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Dos Santos and Ben Rothwell combined for 234 significant strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86, the third most in a single UFC heavyweight fight behind Miocic vs. Cormier (304) at UFC 241 and Fabricio Werdum vs. Marcin Tybura (282) at UFC Fight Night 121.
Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Rothwell are second most in a UFC heavyweight fight behind Cormier (181) at UFC 241.
Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed against Rothwell are the UFC heavyweight record for a single fight.
Dos Santos defends 81.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Tybura (82.1 percent).
[autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished all of those wins by knockout.
Rozenstruik’s nine-second knockout at UFC on ESPN+ 12 is the second fastest in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second finish at UFC 102.
Rozenstruik’s knockout of Alistair Overeem at the 4:56 mark of Round 5 at UFC on ESPN 7 marked the third latest stoppage in UFC history behind Demetrious Johnson’s win (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC 186 and Yair Rodriguez’s victory (4:59 of Round 5) at UFC Fight Night 139.
Remaining main card
[autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (26-13 MMA, 3-4 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since March 2014. He went 8-2 with two no contests between stints with the promotion.
Pineda has earned all 26 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 18 of those wins by submission.
[autotag]John Dodson[/autotag] (21-11 MMA, 10-6 UFC) is 4-4 since he returned to the UFC bantamweight division in April 2016. He’s 5-4 in the weight class overall.
Dodson has earned all six of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Dodson has fought to three split decision results in UFC bantamweight competition, tied for second most in divisional history behind Kyung Ho Kang (four).
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned eight of his 11 career victories by decision. That includes all four of his UFC wins.
Dvalishvili’s 39 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history.
Dvalishvili is one of two fighters in history to land 10 or more takedowns in three separate UFC bouts. Demetrious Johnson also accomplished the feat.
Dvalishvili outlanded Terrion Ware by 183 total strikes at UFC Fight Night 136, the largest differential in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight bout.
Preliminary card
Jim Miller
[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] (32-14 MMA, 21-13 UFC) competes in his 36th UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 34th lightweight appearance is also a divisional record.
Miller’s total fight time of 5:21:47 in UFC lightweight competition is most in divisional history.
Miller’s 21 victories in UFC competition are third most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (23) and Demian Maia (22).
Miller’s 19 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (13).
Miller’s 10 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Royce Gracie for third most in history behind Charles Oliveira (14) and Maia (11).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 43 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Miller’s 11 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are tied with Nate Diaz for third most in divisional history behind Cerrone (15) and Lauzon (15).
[autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is 3-1 since he returned from a career-long layoff that lasted from May 2014 to June 2017.
Pichel lands 60.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the division behind Islam Makhachev (68 percent).
[autotag]Felice Herrig[/autotag] (14-8 MMA, 5-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 6, 2018. The 679-day layoff (nearly two years) is the longest of her more than 11-year career.
[autotag]Ashley Yoder[/autotag] (7-5 MMA, 2-4 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
Longtime veteran Jim Miller has figured out how to stay active in 2020.
Despite 2020’s unforeseen challenges, [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] is staying active.
On Aug. 15 at UFC 252, Miller (32-14 MMA, 21-13 UFC) will return to action and take on [autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] in a lightweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The promotion announced the booking Wednesday.
Miller, 36, has won three out of his past four fights entering UFC 252. Most recently, Miller bounced back from a loss to Scott Holtzman with a first-round submission win over Roosevelt Roberts on June 20.
Pichel (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) returns to action for the first time since June 2019, when he defeated Roberts by unanimous decision. Pichel was scheduled to fight Alexander Yakovlev in November but he withdrew for unknown reasons. Pichel has won five of his most recent six outings.
UFC 252 takes place Saturday, Aug. 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Streaming information has not been announced at this time.
With the addition, the UFC 252 lineup includes:
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – for the UFC heavyweight title
UFC lightweight Vinc Pichel is hoping for an opportunity to avenge an early career loss to Al Iaquinta, but admits he doubts it’ll come to fruition.
UFC lightweight [autotag]Vinc Pichel[/autotag] is hoping for an opportunity to avenge an early career loss, but says he doubts it will ever come to fruition.
Pichel (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was eliminated by [autotag]Al Iaquinta[/autotag] in the semi-finals of the 15th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2012 after their back-and-forth two-round battle at the TUF gym went all the way to the scorecards. Now, almost eight years later, Pichel wants another crack at Iaquinta, but admits he doesn’t think his opposite number would accept the fight.
“Al Iaquinta won’t fight me, and I don’t blame him honestly,” Pichel told MMA Junkie.
Pichel returned from a three-year-long layoff in 2017, and since then, has won three of his last four, and showed little sign of ring rust in the process. He most recently bounced Roosevelt Roberts from the ranks of the unbeaten with a unanimous decision victory at UFC on ESPN 3 in June 2019. But if you ask Pichel about ring rust, he says it’s more a negative state of mind than a lack of physical sharpness.
“Ring rust is a mental block we put on ourselves and stems from lack of self confidence to me,” he offered. “(It’s) Not something I’m familiar with when I’m fighting.”
He was then matched up with Alexander Yakovlev at UFC on ESPN+ 21, but was forced out due to a hip injury that has kept him out of action ever since. Pichel was subsequently replaced by Roberts, who ended up defeating Yakovlev, making it difficult for Pichel to watch on the sidelines.
“Yeah that was a tough pill to swallow for me, actually,” said Pichel. “Not only was that the first fight I’ve had to pull out of, but then my opponent faces someone who I just dominated and loses to him. That’s what really hurt.”
So, while the coronavirus outbreak has significantly altered most fighters’ schedules, Pichel is focused on recovery, and says he’s shooting for a summer return.
“I’m doing OK, actually,” Pichel said. “I am just now getting back into training from hip surgery in December, so I haven’t been slowed down just yet by it. There’s been no talks for now. I’ve just been focusing on my recovery so that’s all that’s in my mind right now, honestly. But if I were to say, I want to fight by summer.”
