Let’s be honest: Every now and then it’s fun to get down into the nitty-gritty statistics and see if we can’t perform some MMAth. It helps us analyze future fights and make predictions based on previous history. Fans of all sports do it, so why can’t we? It can help us look for potential trends in a fighter as well. So, with thanks to Sherdog and FightMetric.com for the raw data, let’s examine the main event of the upcoming UFC 164: Anthony Pettis vs. Benson Henderson II.

Stats for Suckas: Pettis vs. Henderson II

Anthony Pettis Stats Benson Henderson 26 Age 29 Roufusport Camp The MMA Lab 16-2 Record 19-2 Orthodox Stance Southpaw 72.0″ Reach 70.0″ 7 (T)KO (44%) Win Percentage 2 (T)KO (11%) 6 Submissions (38%) 8 Submissions (42%) 3 Decisions (19%) 9 Decisions (47%) 2 Decisions (100%) Loss Percentage 1 Submission (50%) 1 Decision (50%) Jan. 26th, 2013, over Last (T)KO Victory Apr. 5th, 2009, over Donald Cerrone Shane Roller Aug. 18th, 2010, over Last Submission Victory Apr. 24th, 2010, over Shane Roller Donald Cerone Oct. 8th, 2011, over Last Decision Victory Apr. 20th, 2013, over Jeremy Stephens Gilbert Melendez N/A Last (T)KO Loss N/A N/A Last Submission Loss Mar. 31st, 2007, to Rocky Johnson June 4th, 2011, to Last Decision Loss Dec. 16th, 2010, to Clay Guida Anthony Pettis Triangle x3 (50%) Submission Victories Guillotine x4 (50%) Punches x2 (33.3%) by Method RNC x2 (25%) Injury x1 (16.7%) Punches x2 (25%) N/A Submission Losses Anaconda (100%) by Method 1 Longest Decision Streak 7 fights 5 Longest Finish Streak 4 fights 1 Decision Victories 7 in the UFC 2.02 Significant Strikes 2.9 Landed Per Minute 43% Striking Accuracy 44% 1.41 Significant Strikes 1.56 Absorbed Per Minute 65% Striking Defense 66% 1.51 Average Takedown 2.83 Attempts per 15 Min. 77% Takedown Accuracy 48% 65% Takedown Defense 65% Percentage 1.66 Average Submission 0.9 Attempts Per 15 Min. 43.60% Average Submission 50.10% Completion Rate 39, on Dec. 19th, 2009, Most Significant Strikes 124, on Dec. 8th, 2012, vs. Bart Palaszewski Landed in a Fight vs. Nate Diaz 2hrs, 4 min, 21 sec Total Fight Time 3 hrs, 26 min, 6 sec

This, just like the first battle between these two, is going to be close. Both men are fairly evenly matched, so this could be another example of an intangible taking the day. Henderson has been on a decision streak that’s bordering on Fitch-ian, and appears to be lacking killer instinct. Pettis, however, has not had that problem, and is has succeeded in finishing the majority of his fights. In another close decision, I’m going to go with precedent and say that Pettis will get the duke and the UFC Lightweight Championship here.