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UFC 260 pre-event facts: Stipe Miocic aims to enhance GOAT resume

Mike
·7 min read

The UFC’s fourth numbered event of the year takes place Saturday with UFC 260, which goes down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A heavyweight championship rematch is featured in the event headliner. Stipe Miocic (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) will once again look to defend the title against Francis Ngannou (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) after winning their first encounter by unanimous decision at UFC 220 in January 2018.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC 260.

Stipe Miocic vs. Francis Ngannou

Stipe Miocic

Miocic is one of four heavyweight champions in UFC history to have multiple reigns. Miocic's six UFC heavyweight title fight victories are tied with Randy Couture for most in divisional history. Miocic's three consecutive UFC heavyweight title defense during his first reign were the most of any champion in divisional history. Miocic's 14 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are fifth most in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (19), Frank Mir (16), Derrick Lewis (16) and Junior Dos Santos (15). Miocic's nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (12), Dos Santos (10) and Cain Velasquez (10). Miocic's stoppage victory over Daniel Cormier 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 is the only fighter in UFC history to face the same opponent in three consecutive bouts with his trilogy against Cormier. Miocic's nine fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are the most in divisional history.

Francis Ngannou

Ngannou's four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied for the second longest active streak in the division behind Ciryl Gane (five). Ngannou has earned all 15 of his career victories by stoppage. That includes all 10 of his UFC wins. Ngannou's average fight time of 5:37 in UFC heavyweight competition is the shortest among active fighters in the weight class. Ngannou has earned his past four victories by knockout in a combined 2:42 of cage time. Miocic's nine knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Lewis (12), Dos Santos (10) and Velasquez (10). Ngannou is one of five fighters in UFC history to earn their first nine victories with the promotion by stoppage. Vitor Belfort, Don Frye, Gabriel Gonzaga and Royce Gracie also accomplished the feat. Ngannou is one of four modern-era UFC fighters to begin his career with the organization with stoppages in six consecutive fights. Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin and Ronda Rousey also accomplished the feat. Ngannou and Lewis 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.

Tyron Woodley vs. Vicente Luque

Tyron Woodley

[autotag]Tyron Woodley[/autotag]'s (19-6-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since September 2018. Woodley's 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Thiago Alves (13) and Jake Ellenberger (11). Woodley's finish of Robbie Lawler at 2:02 of Round 1 at UFC 201 is the fastest knockout in UFC welterweight title history. Woodley's fight against Demian Maia at UFC 214 consisted of just 86 combined total strikes landed, the third fewest in UFC history for a title fight that went all five rounds behind Kevin Randleman vs. Pedro Rizzo at UFC 26 (49) and Anderson Silva vs. Maia at UFC 112 (73). Woodley has defended 87.5 percent of takedown attempts in UFC welterweight competition, the second highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Kamaru Usman (100 percent).

Vicente Luque

[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (19-7-1 MMA, 12-3 UFC) has earned 17 of his 19 career victories by stoppage. That includes 11 of his 12 UFC wins. Luque's 11 stoppage victories since 2015 in UFC welterweight competition are most in the division during that span. Luque's 11 stoppage victories in UFC welterweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Matt Brown (13) and Matt Hughes (12). Luque's eight knockout victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied with Alves for second most in divisional history behind Brown (11). Luque and Bryan Barberena combined for 332 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN 1, the third most for a three-round fight in UFC history behind Karol Rosa vs. Lara Procopio (336) at UFC on ESPN+ 15 and Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone (334) at UFC 141. Luque's two D'Arce choke victories in UFC competition are tied with Dustin Poirier for second most in company history behind Tony Ferguson (three). Luque is one of 18 fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by anaconda choke. He accomplished the feat at UFC on FOX 17.

Sean O'Malley vs. Thomas Almeida

Sean O'Malley

[autotag]Sean O'Malley[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) enters the event following the first loss of his career. O'Malley lands 57.5 percent of his significant strike attempt in UFC bantamweight competition, the second best rate in divisional history behind Montel Jackson (59.5 percent). [autotag]Thomas Almeida[/autotag]'s (22-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since November 2016. Almeida's four knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind T.J. Dillashaw (seven), Eddie Wineland (five) and Rob Font (five). Almeida earned a fight-night bonus in his first four UFC appearances. He’s the only bantamweight in UFC history to start his career with four-straight bonuses. Almeida's five fight-night bonuses for UFC bantamweight bouts are tied for third most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (eight) and Pedro Munhoz (six).

Jessica Penne vs. Hannah Goldy

Jessica Penne

[autotag]Jessica Penne[/autotag] (12-5 MMA, 1-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since April 22, 2017. The 1,436-day layoff is the longest of her more than 14-year career. Penne's three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn't earned a victory since December 2014.

Modestas Bukauskas vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Michal Oleksiejczuk

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]'s (14-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) three knockdowns landed at UFC on ESPN+ 7 are tied for second most in a UFC light heavyweight bout behind Khalil Rountree's four knockdowns landed at UFC 236. Oleksiejczuk's three knockdowns landed in 44 seconds are the most in the least amount of octagon time in a single UFC fight.

Gillian Robertson vs. Miranda Maverick

Gillian Robertson

[autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) becomes the first in UFC history to make 10 women's flyweight appearances. Robertson's six victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied with Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian for most in divisional history. Robertson's five stoppage victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are most in divisional history. Robertson's four submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are most in divisional history.

Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Abu Azaitar

Marc-Andre Barriault

[autotag]Marc-Andre Barriault[/autotag]'s (11-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC) four-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since September 2018. [autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag] (14-2-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since July 22, 2018. The 979-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 12-year career. Azaitar enters the event on a 10-fight unbeaten streak. He hasn't suffered a loss since September 2012. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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