UFC in 2018: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2018’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

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EVENTS

Gallery The best Bellator and UFC photos of 2018: December view 20 images

The UFC held 39 events in 35 different cities across 11 countries and five continents.

Within those events, there were 474 fights across 13 different weight classes (including catchweight bouts). Those 474 fights combined for a total cage time of 87:21:11.

The longest event of the year was The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale in Las Vegas (2:46:20).

The shortest event of the year was “UFC Fight Night 126: Cowboy vs. Medeiros” in Austin (1:37:45).

The UFC drew an announced total attendance of 432,103 for a live gate total of $66,808,666.31 (Note: the live-gate figure was not announced for four events).

The highest reported attended event of the year was “UFC Fight Night 136: Hunt vs. Oleinik” at Olympic Stadium in Moscow (22,603). The lowest attended event was The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale at Pearl Theatre in Las Vegas (2,020).

The highest reported income gate of the year was “UFC 229: Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor” at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ($17.2 million) while the lowest reported income gate of the year was the TUF 28 Finale ($204,600).

In 2018, 156 fight-night bonuses were given out for a sum of $7.8 million.

In 2018, athletes were paid $6,901,000 in Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay.

Gallery Amanda Nunes def. Raquel Pennington at UFC 224: Best photos view 22 images

“UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” featured 11 stoppages, which tied UFC Fight Night 55 for the most on a single UFC card.

The most knockouts at a single event went to “UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor” with seven.

“UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega” featured a total of 1,674 significant strikes landed, a new single-event UFC record.

The most submissions at a single event went to “UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington” and The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale with five each.

“UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till” was the first event in company history to feature two kneebar submission results.

The most fights to go to a decision at a single event went to “UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” with 10, which tied UFC Fight Night 121, UFC Fight Night 101, UFC Fight Night 84, UFC Fight Night 36 and UFC 169 for the most in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith” featured nine consecutive decisions, the longest streak on a card in company history.

“UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya” tied UFC Fight Night 79 for the most split-decision results (five) in UFC history.

The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale featured two majority decisions, tied with UFC Fight Night 5 for the most in UFC history. It was the first event to have those results in back-to-back fights.

The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale featured six split decisions/majority decisions, a new single-event record in UFC history.

Gallery Dustin Poirier def. Justin Gaethje at UFC on FOX 29: Best photos view 13 images

The 14 bouts at “UFC on FOX 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje” were the second most on a UFC card since UFC 2 in March 1994.

The nine bouts at “UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta” were the least for a pay-per-view event since UFC 177 in August 2014 (eight fights).

UFC 223 featured seven fighters who landed 100 or more significant strikes, a new single-event record.

Betting favorites went 299-158. Seventeen fights ended in a draw, no contest or had even odds.

TUF 28 Finale had the most favorites come through with victories, where 11 of 13 had their hand raised. On the flip side, seven underdogs won at “UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier.”

A total of 29 fighters officially missed weight for their respective contests. The 22 fighters in that group to compete went 13-9 in their respective bouts.

A total of 121 fighters made their UFC debut in 2018. Those fighters went 59-61-1. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one prior UFC bout went 40-42-1.

A variety of circumstances caused a total of 28 UFC main event or co-main event fights to be adjusted, postponed or canceled entirely.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2018’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

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HEAVYWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Daniel Cormier view 52 images

Number of fights: 34

Knockouts: 13

Submissions: Seven

Decisions: 14

Champion at beginning of year: Stipe Miocic

Champion at end of year: Daniel Cormier

Most fights in divisional history: Andrei Arlovski (28)

Longest winning streak in division: Cormier, Justin Willis (four)

Most wins in divisional history: Arlovski, Frank Mir (16)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Mir (13)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Cain Velasquez, Derrick Lewis (10)

Most submissions in divisional history: Mir (eight)

Most fight-night bonuses: Miocic (eight)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Jon Jones view 53 images

Number of fights: 38

Knockouts: 17

Submissions: Eight

Decisions: 13

Champion at beginning of year: Daniel Cormier

Champion at end of year: Jon Jones

Most fights in divisional history: Ryan Bader, Rashad Evans (20)

Longest winning streak in division: Jan Blachowicz, Dominick Reyes (four)

Most wins in divisional history: Jones (17)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Jones (10)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Chuck Liddell (nine)

Most submissions in divisional history: Jones (five)

Most fight-night bonuses: Jones, Mauricio Rua (eight)

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Robert Whittaker view 19 images

Number of fights: 44

Knockouts: 19

Submissions: Eight

Decisions: 16

Other: One

Champion at beginning of year: Robert Whittaker

Champion at end of year: Whittaker

Most fights in divisional history: Michael Bisping (24)

Longest winning streak in division: Whittaker (eight)

Most wins in divisional history: Bisping (16)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Anderson Silva (11)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Silva and Thiago “Marreta” Santos (eight)

Most submissions in divisional history: Thales Leites, Antonio Carlos Junior, Rousimar Palhares, Demian Maia (five)

Most fight-night bonuses: Silva (11)

WELTERWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Tyron Woodley view 42 images

Number of fights: 79

Knockouts: 31

Submissions: 14

Decisions: 35

Other: Two

Champion at beginning of year: Tyron Woodley

Champion at end of year: Woodley

Most fights in divisional history: Matt Brown, Josh Koscheck (24)

Longest winning streak in division: Kamaru Usman (nine)

Most wins in divisional history: Georges St-Pierre (19)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Brown, Matt Hughes (12)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Brown (10)

Most submissions in divisional history: Chris Lytle, Gunnar Nelson (six)

Most fight-night bonuses: Lytle (10)

LIGHTWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Khabib Nurmagomedov view 32 images

Number of fights: 72

Knockouts: 24

Submissions: 14

Decisions: 34

Champion at beginning of year: Conor McGregor

Champion at end of year: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Most fights in divisional history: Jim Miller (30)

Longest winning streak in division: Tony Ferguson (11)

Most wins in divisional history: Miller (17)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Joe Lauzon (12)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Edson Barboza, Melvin Guillard (seven)

Most submissions in divisional history: Miller, Lauzon, Nate Diaz (seven)

Most fight-night bonuses: Lauzon (15)

FEATHERWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Max Holloway view 137 images

Number of fights: 57

Knockouts: 19

Submissions: Eight

Decisions: 30

Champion at beginning of year: Max Holloway

Champion at end of year: Holloway

Most fights in divisional history: Holloway, Darren Elkins (18)

Longest winning streak in division: Holloway (12)

Most wins in divisional history: Holloway (15)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Holloway (10)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Holloway (eight)

Most submissions in divisional history: Charles Oliveira (six)

Most fight-night bonuses: Holloway, Cub Swanson (seven)

WOMEN’S FEATHERWEIGHT

Gallery Amanda Nunes def. Cris Cyborg at UFC 232: Best photos view 14 images

Number of fights: Six

Knockouts: Three

Submissions: One

Decisions: Two

Champion at beginning of year: Cris Cyborg

Champion at end of year: Amanda Nunes

Most fights in divisional history: Cyborg (four)

Longest winning streak in division: Six fighters tied at one

Most wins in divisional history: Cyborg (three)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Cyborg (two)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Cyborg (two)

Most submissions in divisional history: Macy Chiasson (one)

Most fight-night bonuses: Three tied at one

BANTAMWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of T.J. Dillashaw view 113 images

Number of fights: 52

Knockouts: 13

Submissions: 12

Decisions: 27

Champion at beginning of year: T.J. Dillashaw

Champion at end of year: Dillashaw

Most fights in divisional history: Dillashaw, Urijah Faber, Iuri Alcantara (15)

Longest winning streak in division: Four fighters tied at four

Most wins in divisional history: Dillashaw (12)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Dillashaw (eight)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Dillashaw (seven)

Most submissions in divisional history: Faber (six)

Most fight-night bonuses: Dillashaw (eight)

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Amanda Nunes view 17 images

Number of fights: 12

Knockouts: Two

Submissions: One

Decisions: Nine

Champion at beginning of year: Amanda Nunes

Champion at end of year: Nunes

Most fights in divisional history: Nunes, Sara McMann, Raquel Pennington (10)

Longest winning streak in division: Nunes (seven)

Most wins in divisional history: Nunes (nine)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Nunes (seven)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Nunes (five)

Most submissions in divisional history: Ronda Rousey (three)

Most fight-night bonuses: Rousey (seven)

FLYWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Henry Cejudo view 57 images

Number of fights: 24

Knockouts: Six

Submissions: Five

Decisions: 13

Champion at beginning of year: Demetrious Johnson

Champion at end of year: Henry Cejudo

Most fights in divisional history: Johnson (15)

Longest winning streak in division: Deiveson Figueiredo (four)

Most wins in divisional history: Johnson (13)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Johnson (seven)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Joseph Benavidez, Dustin Ortiz, John Lineker (four)

Most submissions in divisional history: Johnson (five)

Most fight-night bonuses: Johnson (nine)

WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Valentina Shevchenko view 27 images

Number of fights: 23

Knockouts: One

Submissions: Six

Decisions: 16

Champion at beginning of year: Nicco Montano

Champion at end of year: Valentina Shevchenko

Most fights in divisional history: Seven tied at three

Longest winning streak in division: Jessica Eye (three)

Most wins in divisional history: Eye (three)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Three tied at two

Most knockouts in divisional history: Three tied at one

Most submissions in divisional history: Gillian Robertson, Montana De La Rosa (two)

Most fight-night bonuses: Five tied at one

WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT

Gallery Photos: Best of Rose Namajunas view 39 images

Number of fights: 23

Knockouts: One

Submissions: Six

Decisions: 16

Champion at beginning of year: Rose Namajunas

Champion at end of year: Namajunas

Most fights in divisional history: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (11)

Longest winning streak in division: Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff (four)

Most wins in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk (nine)

Most stoppages in divisional history: Namajunas (four)

Most knockouts in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk, Jessica Andrade, Paige VanZant (two)

Most submissions in divisional history: Namajunas, Cynthia Calvillo (three)

Most fight-night bonuses: Andrade (four)

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2018’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

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CHAMPIONSHIP FEATS

Gallery Daniel Cormier def. Stipe Miocic at UFC 226: Best photos view 22 images

Daniel Cormier joined Randy Couture as the only fighters in UFC history to win two championship fights following a loss or no-contest when he defeated Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 220.

Stipe Miocic became the first heavyweight champion in UFC history to earn three consecutive title defenses when he defeated Francis Ngannou at UFC 220.

Khabib Nurmagomedov became the second Russian-born champion in UFC history when he defeated Al Iaquinta at UFC 223. Former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski was the first.

Cormier became the second simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history when he defeated Miocic at UFC 226. Conor McGregor also accomplished the feat.

Cormier became the fifth two-division champion in UFC history when he won at UFC 226. McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Couture also accomplished the feat.

Demetrious Johnson became the third fighter in UFC history to lose a championship by split decision when he dropped the flyweight title at UFC 227. T.J. Dillashaw and Johny Hendricks were the others.

Henry Cejudo became the first MMA fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a UFC championship when he claimed the flyweight title at UFC 227.

Gallery Tyron Woodley def. Darren Till at UFC 228: Best photos view 21 images

Darren Till became the fourth fighter in UFC history to land zero significant strikes in a championship bout when he lost at UFC 228. His 9:19 of cage time is the most of any fighter in the group. The previous high was 3:45.

Cormier became the first fighter in UFC history to record successful title defense in two weight classes when he won at UFC 230.

Amanda Nunes became the third simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history when she won the women’s featherweight title at UFC 232. Cormier and McGregor also accomplished the feat.

Nunes became the sixth fighter in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes. Cormier, McGregor, St-Pierre, Penn and Randy Couture also accomplished the feat.

Alexander Gustafsson became the seventh fighter in UFC history to go 0-3 in championship fights when he lost at UFC 232.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2018’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

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INDIVIDUAL FEATS

Darren Elkins earned his first UFC submission win on his 21st submission attempt at UFC Fight Night 124, the most attempts before a submission finish in UFC history.

Valentina Shevchenko outlanded Priscila Cachoeira 230-3 in total strikes at UFC Fight Night 125, the largest disparity in UFC women’s history.

Tyson Pedro earned the first kimura victory in UFC light-heavyweight competition in more than seven years when he submitted Saparbeg Safarov at UFC 221.

Donald Cerrone tied St-Pierre and Michael Bisping for most victories in UFC history (20) when he won at UFC Fight Night 126.

Cerrone earned his 14th UFC stoppage victory at UFC Fight Night 126, tied with Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva for most in UFC history.

Hector Lombard became the first fighter in UFC history to be disqualified for illegal strikes after the bell when he lost to C.B. Dollaway at UFC 222.

Andrei Arlovski’s 16th victory in UFC heavyweight competition (earned at UFC 222) tied with Frank Mir for most in divisional history.

Frankie Edgar’s record streak without a UFC stoppage loss was ended at 6:32:33 of cage time when he suffered a knockout against Brian Ortega at UFC 222.

Paul Craig’s victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 marked the latest submission in a three-fight UFC fight. The record was broken later in the year.

Leon Edwards’ victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 marked the latest knockout in a three-fight UFC fight.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk became the second fighter in UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in six separate fights at UFC 223. Max Holloway also accomplished the feat.

Nurmagomedov became the third fighter in UFC history to earn 10 consecutive octagon victories to start a career with the organization when he won at UFC 223. Anderson Silva and Royce Gracie also accomplished the feat.

Adam Wieczorek earned just the second omoplata win in UFC history when he submitted Arjan Bhullar at UFC on FOX 29.

Gallery Dustin Poirier def. Justin Gaethje at UFC on FOX 29: Best photos view 13 images

Justin Gaethje became the first fighter in UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in each of his first three UFC fights when he lost a UFC on FOX 29.

Corey Anderson’s 12 takedowns landed against Patrick Cummins at UFC Fight Night 128 marked a new single-fight record for a UFC light-heavyweight bout.

Ricky Simon’s victory at the 5:00 mark of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 128 marked the latest stoppage in a three-round UFC fight.

Aleksei Oleinik earned the second Ezekiel-choke victory in UFC history at UFC 224. He was the first to win with the technique – at UFC Fight Night 103.

Gallery Lyoto Machida def. Vitor Belfort at UFC 224: Best photos view 23 images

Lyoto Machida became the first fighter in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from a front kick to the head when he defeated Vitor Belfort at UFC 224.

Belfort became the first fighter in UFC history to suffer two knockout losses stemming from a front kick to the head.

Poliana Botelho’s 33-second victory at UFC Fight Night 129 marked the fastest finish in UFC strawweight history.

Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero combined for 239 significant strikes landed at UFC 225, the single-fight record for a five-fight UFC middleweight fight.

Francis Ngannou and Derrick Lewis combined for 31 total strikes landed, the second fewest in a three-round UFC fight behind Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque (23) at UFC 26 in June 2000

Anthony Pettis’ seven submission victories from a bottom position in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition after winning at UFC 226 are most in combined company history.

Gallery Paulo Costa def. Uriah Hall at UFC 226: Best photos view 15 images

Paulo Costa is the first middleweight in UFC history to begin his octagon tenure with four consecutive knockout wins when he won at UFC 226.

Manny Bermudez’s 59-second triangle-choke win at UFC Fight Night 134 was the third fastest finish of its kind in UFC history. Only Rory Singer’s 44-second win at the TUF 3 Finale and Carlos Newton’s 52-second win at UFC 17 were faster.

Aleksander Rakic outlanded his opponent 263 to 28 in total strikes at UFC Fight Night 134. The +235 difference is the largest margin in UFC history for a light-heavyweight bout.

Rakic’s scorecard differential of +17 points (30-25, 30-24, 30-24) at UFC Fight night 134 is the largest margin in UFC history for a three-round fight.

Jeremy Stephens suffered his 14th UFC loss at UFC on FOX 30, the most in company history.

Alex Perez landed 84 significant strikes in the first round of his fight at UFC 227, the second most in UFC history behind Tim Sylvia’s 94 against “Cabbage” Correia at UFC 39.

Gallery Jim Miller def. Alex White at UFC 228: Best photos view 8 images

Jim Miller set a new lightweight wins record when he earned his 17th win in the weight class at UFC 228.

Diego Sanchez tied St-Pierre’s record for most UFC wins by decision (12) when he won at UFC 228.

Lombard tied the record for longest losing skid in UFC history at six fights when he lost at UFC Fight Night 137. Phil Baroni and Elvis Sinosic also share the record.

Charles Oliveira broke Royce Gracie’s record for most submission wins in UFC history when he earned his 11th octagon finish by tap at UFC Fight Night 137.

Randa Markos vs. Marina Rodriguez was the first strawweight fight to end a draw at UFC Fight Night 137.

Gian Villante became the first fighter in UFC history to fight to four consecutive split decisions at UFC Fight Night 138.

Gallery Photos: Donald Cerrone celebrates UFC Fight Night 139 win with his son view 11 images

Donald Cerrone passed St-Pierre and Bisping for most wins in UFC history with his 21st octagon win at UFC Fight Night 139.

Cerrone passed A. Silva and Belfort for the most stoppage victories in UFC history with his submission at UFC Fight Night 139.

Yair Rodriguez’s knockout victory at 4:59 of Round 5 at UFC Fight Night 139 tied Demetrious Johnson’s finish at UFC 186 for the latest stoppage in a UFC fight.

Kamaru Usman became the second in UFC History to land 100+ significant strikes and 10+ takedowns in a single fight when he defeated Rafael dos Anjos at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale. Cain Velasquez also accomplished the feat at UFC 155.

Gallery Max Holloway def. Brian Ortega at UFC 231: Best photos view 13 images

Max Holloway landed 290 significant strikes at UFC 231, a new single-fight UFC record.

Holloway landed 134 significant strikes in Round 4 at UFC 231, a new single-round UFC record.

Holloway and Brian Ortega combined for 400 significant strikes landed at UFC 231, a new single-fight UFC record.

C. Oliveira extended his own record for most submission victories in UFC history with his 12 at UFC on FOX 31.

Oliveira set a new record for most “Performance of the Night” bonuses in UFC history with his seventh at UFC on FOX 31.

Gallery Edson Barboza def. Dan Hooker at UFC on FOX 31: Best photos view 13 images

Edson Barboza became the first fighter in UFC history with knockout finishes stemming from a head kick, body punch, body kick, leg kicks and flying knee with his victory at UFC on FOX 31.

B.J. Penn’s six-fight UFC losing skid, reached at UFC 232, tied three other fighters for the longest in company history.

Nunes tied Jessica Andrade for the most victories by any female in UFC history with her 10th earned at UFC 232.

For more on the UFC’s schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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