UFC on ESPN 45 pre-event facts: Jim Miller can add to octagon wins record, be first to 25
The UFC opens a jam-packed June schedule on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 45, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
A rare non-title flyweight bout gets the main event spotlight. Former interim title challenger Kai Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is set to takes on surging contender Amir Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a high stakes matchup scheduled for five rounds.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card – which features two of the longest-tenured veterans on the roster – check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 45.
Kai Kara-France
Kara-France has earned both of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Kara-France defends 87.8 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Ian McCall (90 percent).
Kara-France’s five fight-night bonuses for UFC flyweight bouts are third-most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (nine) and Brandon Moreno (six).
Amir Albazi
Albazi’s three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Muhammad Mokaev (four).
Albazi has earned 14 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.
Alex Caceres vs. Daniel Pineda
Alex Caceres (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC) is 10-5 since he returned to the UFC featherweight division in January 2015.
Caceres is one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn 10 featherweight victories.
Daniel Pineda (28-14 MMA, 5-5 UFC) is 2-1 with one no contest since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in August 2020.
Pineda has earned all 28 of his career victories by stoppage.
Pineda’s four submission victories in UFC featherweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Charles Oliveira (six), who hasn’t competed at 145 pounds since August 2016.
Jim Miller vs. Jared Gordon
Jim Miller’s (35-17 MMA, 24-16 UFC) competes in his 42nd UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 39th lightweight appearance is also a divisional record.
Miller’s 24 victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Miller’s 21 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 16 stoppage victories in UFC competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for second-most in company history behind Oliveira (19).
Miller’s 14 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 11 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Demian Maia for second-most in company history behind Oliveira (15).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Oliveira (10).
Miller’s 45 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Miller’s 12 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are third-most in divisional history behind Lauzon (15) and Cerrone (14).
Jared Gordon (19-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) has earned six of his seven UFC victories by decision.
Gordon lands 57.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third-highest rate in divisional history behind Islam Makhachev (60.2 percent).
Tim Elliott vs. Victor Altamirano
Tim Elliott (18-12-1 MMA, 7-10 UFC) competes in his 17th UFC flyweight bout, the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Joseph Benavidez (19).
Elliott is 5-6 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in December 2016.
Elliott has earned six of his seven UFC victories by decision.
Elliott landed 270 total strikes at UFC 164, the single-fight record for a UFC flyweight bout.
Elliott has landed 52 takedowns in UFC flyweight competition, the second-most in divisional history behind Demetrious Johnson (58).
Karine Silva vs. Ketlen Souza
Karine Silva (15-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has earned all 15 of her career victories by stoppage. She’s finished 11 of those wins in Round 1.
Silva is one of two females in UFC history to earn a submission victory by D’Arce choke. She accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 207. Tatiana Suarez also won with the technique.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (23-7 MMA, 9-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Oct. 30, 2021. The 581-day layoff is the longest of his more than 13-year career.
Dos Santos is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn knockouts stemming from a flying knee and a spinning wheel kick. Cory Sandhagen and Edson Barboza also accomplished the feat.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Don'Tale Mayes
Andrei Arlovski (34-21 MMA, 23-15 UFC) competes in his 40th UFC bout, the most in heavyweight history and second-most appearances in company history behind Miller (42).
Arlovski is 13-11 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in June 2014.
Arlovski’s 23 victories in UFC competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for second-most is company history behind Miller (24).
Arlovski’s 23 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s total fight time of 6:11:41 in UFC heavyweight competition is the most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Derrick Lewis (13) and Frank Mir (13).
Arlovski’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Junior Dos Santos (14).
Arlovski’s 12 decision victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski landed 152 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN 4, the single-fight record for a three-round UFC heavyweight bout.
Arlovski’s nine knockout losses in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are second-most in combined organizational history behind Alistair Overeem (13).
Elise Reed vs. Jinh Yu Frey
Elise Reed (6-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over her past six fights dating back to May 2021. She lost her most recent bout at UFC 284 in February.
Jinh Yu Frey (11-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) defends 88.9 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Philipe Lins vs. Maxim Grishin
Philipe Lins (16-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is 2-0 since he dropped to the UFC light heavyweight division in April 2022.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
