UFC on ESPN 24 pre-event facts: Donald Cerrone gets another shot at history
The second event in a busy May schedule for the UFC goes down Saturday with UFC on ESPN 23 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
The main event features a short-notice matchup between strawweight contenders Marina Rodriguez (14-1-2 MMA, 3-1-2 UFC) and Michelle Waterson (18-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC), who have agreed to fight at flyweight due to the lack of preparation time.
There are also a number of other notables set to compete. For more on the numbers, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 23.
Marina Rodriguez vs. Michelle Waterson
Michelle Waterson
Waterson has earned four of her six UFC victories by decision. Waterson has completed at least one takedown against eight of her 10 UFC opponents. Rodriguez is the only female fighter in UFC history to fight to multiple draws.
Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Morono
Donald Cerrone
[autotag]Donald Cerrone[/autotag]’s (36-15-1 MMA, 23-12-1 UFC) five-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2019. Cerrone has fought on Spike, Versus, FUEL TV, pay-per-view, FOX, FS1, UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, and ESPN+ during his UFC tenure. Cerrone competes in his 37th UFC bout, tied with Jim Miller for the most appearances in company history. Cerrone makes his 47th UFC/WEC appearance, the most in combined organizational history. Cerrone's 47 appearances in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are most in combined organizational history. Cerrone makes his 14th UFC welterweight appearance. He's 6-6 with one no contest when fighting in the weight class. Cerrone's 26 appearances since 2014 in UFC competition are most in the company. Cerrone's 23 victories in UFC competition are most in company history. Cerrone's 29 victories in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are most in combined organization history. Cerrone's 17 victories in UFC lightweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Miller (19). Cerrone's 16 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Charles Oliveira for most in company history. Cerrone's 20 stoppage victories in UFC/WEC competition are the most in combined organizational history. Cerrone's 20 stoppage victories in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are tied with Wanderlei Silva for second most in combined organizational history behind Mirko Cro Cop (21). Cerrone's seven knockout victories stemming from kicks in UFC competition are most in company history. No one else has more than four. Cerrone's 20 knockdowns landed in UFC competition are most in company history. Cerrone has landed 391 leg kicks in UFC competition, the second most in company history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (488). Cerrone's 23 fight-night bonuses in UFC/WEC bouts are the most in combined organizational history. Cerrone's 18 fight-night bonuses in UFC bouts are most in company history.
Neil Magny vs. Geoff Neal
Neil Magny
[autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag] (24-8 MMA, 17-7 UFC) competes in his 25th UFC welterweight bout, tied with Josh Koscheck for third most in divisional history behind Matt Brown (27) and Thiago Alves (26). Magny’s 17 victories in UFC welterweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Georges St-Pierre (19). Magny’s 11 decision victories in UFC competition are tied for third most in company history behind St-Pierre (12) and Diego Sanchez (12). Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014. Magny is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn five victories in a calendar year, as he did in 2014. Kevin Holland (2020) and Roger Huerta (2007) also accomplished the feat. Magny's 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 stand as the single-fight UFC record.
Maurice Greene v. Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Maurice Greene
[autotag]Maurice Greene[/autotag] (9-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by arm-triangle choke from bottom position. Aljamain Sterling also accomplished the feat. Greene is one of two heavyweights in UFC history to earn a submission by triangle choke. Stefan Struve owns two wins with the technique. [autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag] (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past 10 fights. He was defeated in his most recent bout at UFC on ESPN 17 in November. De Lima has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 14 of those wins in Round 1.
Diego Ferreira vs. Gregor Gillespie
Gregor Gillespie
[autotag]Gregor Gillespie[/autotag] (13-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Nov. 2, 2019. The 553-day layoff is the longest of his more than seven-year career. Gillespie has earned 11 of his 13 career victories by stoppage. That includes five of his six UFC wins. Gillespie has been controlled by his opponent on the ground for just eight seconds in UFC lightweight competition, the least amount of time for anyone with five fights in divisional history.
Amanda Ribas vs. Angela Hill
Angela Hill
[autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] (13-9 MMA, 8-9 UFC) competes in her 18th UFC strawweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history. Hill is 7-7 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2017. Hill's eight victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10). Hill's two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Rose Namajunas (three). Hill's three knockdowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are second most in divisional history behind Namajunas (four). Hill's nine losses in UFC competition are tied second most for any female in company history behind Randa Markos (10).
Ben Rothwell vs. Philipe Lins
Ben Rothwell
[autotag]Ben Rothwell[/autotag] (38-13 MMA, 8-7 UFC) is 2-4 in his past six fights dating back to April 2016. Rothwell is 2-3 since he returned to competition in March 2019 after a nearly three-year layoff. Rothwell has earned 34 of his 38 career victories by stoppage. That includes four of his UFC wins.
Phil Hawes vs. Kyle Daukaus
[autotag]Phil Hawes[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned nine of his 10 career victories by stoppage. Hawes' 18-second knockout at UFC 254 marked the second fastest debut for a middleweight in UFC history behind Mark Weir’s 10-second win at UFC 38.
Ludovit Klein vs. Mike Trizano
[autotag]Ludovit Klein[/autotag] (17-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned 16 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. [autotag]Mike Trizano[/autotag] (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since May 18, 2019. The 721-day layoff is the longest of his more than five-year career. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
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