UFC on ESPN 50 pre-event facts: Jessica Andrade first female to 25 octagon appearances
The UFC returns to Nashville, Tenn., for the sixth time in company history on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 50, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena with a card that airs entirely on ESPN.
Two bantamweight contenders will meet in a 140-pound catchweight main event when Cory Sandhagen (16-4 MMA, 9-3 UFC) takes on replacement opponent Rob Font (20-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC), who stepped in for the injury Umar Nurmagomedov.
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 for UFC on ESPN 50.
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Cory Sandhagen
Sandhagen competes in his fifth UFC headliner. He’s 3-1 in previous main events.
Sandhagen’s 28-second knockout victory at UFC Fight Night 184 marked the second-fastest flying knee finish in UFC history behind Jorge Masvidal’s five-second win at UFC 239.
Sandhagen is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn knockouts stemming from a flying knee and a spinning wheel kick. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos and Edson Barboza also accomplished the feat.
Sandhagen is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 179.
Sandhagen and Petr Yan combined for 318 significant strikes landed at UFC 267, the second most in a single UFC bantamweight fight behind Marlon Vera vs. Font (430) at UFC on ESPN 35.
Rob Font
Font’s 10 victories in the UFC’s bantamweight division are sixth-most in divisional history behind Aljamain Sterling (14), T.J. Dillashaw (13), Marlon Vera (12), Raphael Assuncao (12) and Urijah Faber (11).
Font’s seven stoppage victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Vera (10) and Dillashaw (eight).
Font’s six knockout victories in UFC bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Dillashaw (seven).
Font landed 271 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN 35, the single-fight record for a UFC bantamweight bout.
Jessica Andrade
Jessica Andrade (24-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) competes in her 25th UFC bout, the most appearances by any female in company history
Andrade becomes the first fighter to make four UFC appearances in 2023.
Andrade is one of 17 fighters in UFC history to earn victories in three weight classes. She’s the only female to accomplish the feat, winning at bantamweight, flyweight and strawweight.
Andrade’s 15 UFC victories are the second-most by any female in company history behind Amanda Nunes (16).
Andrade is 1-1 since she returned to the UFC strawweight division in April 2022.
Andrade’s eight stoppage victories in UFC women’s competition are second-most in company history behind Nunes (10).
Andrade’s five stoppage victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied with Rose Namajunas and Amanda Lemos for most in divisional history.
Andrade is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. She accomplished the feat at UFC 237.
Andrade is one of four in history to win a UFC title fight by knockout stemming from a slam. She accomplished the feat at UFC 237.
Andrade landed 231 significant strikes against Lauren Murphy at UFC 283, the single-fight record for a UFC women’s flyweight bout.
Andrade landed 231 significant strikes at UFC 283, the second most in a three-round fight in UFC history behind Nate Diaz’s 238 landed vs. Donald Cerrone at UFC 141.
Andrade landed 242 total strikes against Claudia Gadelha at UFC Fight Night 117, the single-fight record for a UFC strawweight bout.
Andrade earned the only standing arm-triangle choke submission in UFC history with her finish of Amanda Lemos at UFC Fight Night 205.
Andrade’s 10 takedowns landed against Tecia Torres at UFC on FOX 29 is the single-fight record for a women’s UFC bout.
Andrade’s eight fight-night bonuses for UFC strawweight bouts are most in divisional history.
Tatiana Suarez
Tatiana Suarez (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) returns to the strawweight division after a one-fight stint at women’s flyweight.
Suarez’s six-fight UFC winning streak is the longest active streak among female fighters in the company.
Suarez’s five-fight UFC winning streak in strawweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
Dustin Jacoby (18-7-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) is 6-2-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in October 2020.
Jacoby lands 6.47 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (8.34) and Jamahal Hill (6.99).
Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Hill (four) and Ulberg (four).
Nzechukwu earned a knockout at UFC 259 despite a -64 deficit in significant strikes landed, the biggest statistical comeback for a light heavyweight bout and third overall in UFC history.
Diego Lopes vs. Gavin Tucker
Gavin Tucker (13-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since March 13, 2021. The 875-day layoff is the longest of his more than 12-year career.
Tanner Boser vs. Aleksa Camur
Tanner Boser (20-10-1 MMA, 4-5 UFC) is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to November 2020.
Boser was unsuccessful in his light heavyweight debut at UFC on ESPN 44 in April.
Aleksa Camur (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since June 19, 2021. The 875-day layoff is the longest of his nearly-six-year career.
Camur has suffered consecutive losses after starting his career 6-0.
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Ludovit Klein
Ignacio Bahamondes (14-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning wheel kick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 29.
Billy Quarantillo vs. Damon Jackson
Billy Quarantillo (17-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has earned four of his five UFC victories by stoppage.
Quarantillo lands 8.18 significant strikes per minute in UFC featherweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Quarantillo and Shane Burgos combined for 357 significant strikes landed, the most for a three-round fight in UFC history.
Damon Jackson (22-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) is 5-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2020.
Jackson is the only fighter in UFC history to have a record of 1-1-1 with one no contest in his first four octagon appearances.
Raoni Barcelos vs. Kyler Phillips
Kyler Phillips (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is one of ten fighters in UFC history to earn a triangle/armbar submission victory. He accomplished the feat at UFC 271.
Jake Hadley vs. Cody Durden
Cody Durden’s (15-4-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (four), Amir Albazi (four) and Muhammad Mokaev (four).
Durden has earned three of his four UFC victories by decision.
Durden completes 59 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Justin Scoggins (62.9 percent) and Rogerio Bontorin (60 percent).
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 50.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
