UFC 293 pre-event facts: Israel Adesanya brings elite resume into Sydney headliner
The UFC returns to Sydney for the first time in nearly six years Saturday with UFC 293, which goes down at Qudos Bank Arena and features a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
A middleweight championship showdown serves as the main event of the card. Israel Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will attempt to make the first defense of his second title reign when he puts gold on the line against outspoken contender Sean Strickland (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 293.
* * * *
Israel Adesanya
Adesanya is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed title with an undefeated record.
Adesanya is one of 12 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history. He’s the only one in the group to have two separate title reigns.
Adesanya’s eight victories in UFC middleweight title fights are second-most in history behind Anderson Silva (11).
Adesanya’s average fight time of 17:19 in UFC middleweight competition is the longest in divisional history.
Adesanya’s 13 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied with Silva for most in divisional history.
Adesanya’s four knockdowns landed against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC title bout.
Adesanya’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC middleweight bouts are tied with Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker for second-most in divisional history behind Silva (12).
Sean Strickland
Strickland is one of 17 fighters in history to earn victories in three UFC weight classes. He’s won at light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight.
Strickland is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn victories at light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight. Ildemar Alcantara and Trevin Giles also accomplished the feat.
Strickland’s two victories in a 14-day stretch at UFC Fight Night 181 and UFC Fight Night 182 are tied for the third shortest span between non-tournament UFC wins.
Strickland is 5-2 since he returned to the UFC middleweight division in October 2020.
Strickland lands 6.19 significant strikes per minute in UFC middleweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Dricus Du Plessis (6.95) and Paulo Costa (6.49).
Strickland defends 65.4 percent of all opponent strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov
Tai Tuivasa (15-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) is 5-5 in his past 10 fights after starting his career 10-0.
Tuivasa has earned 14 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished each of his seven UFC wins by knockout.
Tuivasa is one of two heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a flying knee. Fabricio Werdum also accomplished the feat.
Tuivasa is one of four heavyweights in UFC history to earn knockouts stemming from a knee and an elbow strike. Alistair Overeem, Cheick Kongo and Justin Willis also accomplished the feat.
Alexander Volkov (36-10 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is a former Bellator heavyweight champion.
Manel Kape vs. Felipe dos Santos
Manel Kape’s (18-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (four), Muhammad Mokaev (four), Amir Albazi (four) and Cody Durden (four).
Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj
Tyson Pedro (9-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) had earned all nine of his career victories by first-round stoppage.
Pedro is one of four light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC 278. Marcin Prachnio, Jan Blachowicz and Rich Franklin have also won with the technique.
Carlos Ulberg vs. Da Woon Jung
Carlos Ulberg’s (7-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied with Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree for the longest active streak in the division.
Ulberg’s three-fight UFC knockout streak is tied for the second-longest active streak among fighters in the company behind Sergei Pavlovich (six).
Ulberg lands 63.2 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Ulberg lands 8.34 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Jamie Mullarkey vs. John Makdessi
John Makdessi (18-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back fist. He accomplished the feat at UFC 129.
Makdessi has landed 1,210 significant strikes in UFC lightweight competition, the third-most in divisional history behind Bobby Green (1,637) and Evan Dunham (1,225).
Makdessi defends 69.3 percent of opponent significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
