Mid-week UFC action returns to the forefront of the MMA world this Wednesday, as “UFC Fight Night 35: Rockhold vs. Philippou” is scheduled to go down from The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.

The event, which broadcasts live on FOX Sports 1 following preliminary card action streaming on UFC Fight Pass, features a middleweight main event between former Strikeforce titleholder Luke Rockhold (10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and striking specialist Constantinos Philippou (12-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC)

Both men had solid winning streaks snapped with lopsided losses in their last outings, and a win is absolutely necessary in order to stay afloat in the rapidly evolving middleweight division.

Neither fighter has ever suffered consecutive losses throughout their MMA careers, and they certainly don’t want to start now.

With high stakes set for the UFC’s first event in the state of Georgia since UFC 145 in April 2012, FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll helps bring you 45 pre-fight facts about UFC Fight Night 35.

MAIN EVENT

Rockhold was the only middleweight champion in the history of the now-defunct Strikeforce organization to successfully defend his belt twice.

Rockhold’s seven knockout or submission finishes in his Strikeforce career were tied with Cung Le for the most in company history.

Rockhold’s seven knockdowns in Strikeforce competition were the second most in organizational history behind Le (10).

Rockhold’s five submission victories in Strikeforce were tied with Tim Kennedy for the most in history.

Rockhold’s 30-second submission of Cody Devela at Strikeforce Challengers 2 was the fifth fastest submission in company history.

Rockhold has earned all eight of his career finishes in the first round.

Philippou will compete in the first UFC main event of his career.

Philippou’s five-fight UFC winning streak prior to his loss to Francis Carmont was tied for the fourth longest winning streak in middleweight history.

Philippou lands 88.1 percent of his significant strikes to his opponent’s head, the largest proportion in middleweight history (minimum of five UFC fights, 300 attempts).

Philippou has landed 71.5 percent of his significant strikes from a distance, the fifth largest proportion among active middleweight fighters (minimum of five UFC fights, 300 attempts).

Philippou’s three knockdowns landed against Jared Hamman at UFC 140 are tied for the second most ever in a UFC middleweight fight.

CO-MAIN EVENT

Brad Tavares’ (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak is the third longest in the middleweight division behind Carmont (six) and Chris Weidman (seven).

Tavares has won all four fights on his winning streak by decision.

Tavares’ owns the highest UFC winning percentage of any fighter from his season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show.

Tavares average fight time of 13:29 is the fourth longest in middleweight history (minimum of five UFC fights).

Tavares 3.4 significant strikes landed per minute is the fifth highest rate among active UFC middleweights.

Tavares lands 81.9 percent of his significant strikes from a distance, the second longest proportion among active middleweights behind Chris Camozzi (84.4 percent).

Tavares’ 80.8 percent takedown defense rate is the fourth best in middleweight history. The Hawaiian has stuffed 21 of 26 takedown attempts inside the octagon.

Tavares’ 116 significant strikes against Riki Fukuda at UFC on FUEL TV 8 are the fourth most ever landed by a middleweight in a single fight.

REMAINING MAIN CARD

Mike Easton (13-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) enters the event on the first two-fight losing streak of his professional career.

T.J. Dillashaw’s (8-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) 3.84 strikes landed per minute rate is the seventh highest in UFC bantamweight history. His 1.81 significant strikes absorbed per minute rate is the lowest in 135-pound history.

Dillashaw’s +2.03 strike differential rate is the 14th largest margin for any fighter in UFC history and third largest margin in UFC bantamweight history.

Dillashaw’s average fight time of 7:23 is the second shortest in bantamweight history behind John Albert (4:24).

Dillashaw’s 76 significant ground strikes landed against Walel Watson at UFC on FUEL TV 1 are the most ever by a fighter in a single UFC bout.

Yoel Romero (6-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a flying knee strike.

Romero has knocked out his opponent in all six of his professional victories.

Derek Brunson’s (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) 48-second submission of Brian Houston at UFC Fight Night 31 was the fourth fastest in middleweight history.

John Moraga (13-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) competes for the first time since failing to capture the UFC flyweight title from Demetrious Johnson at UFC on FOX 8.

Moraga is one of nine fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from standing elbow strikes.

Moraga vs. Dustin Ortiz (12-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is the lone bout on the card pitting a fighter who lost their last fight against a fighter who won their last fight.

Cole Miller (20-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is 2-3 since dropping to the UFC featherweight division.

Miller’s six submission victories under the UFC banner are the fifth most in the organization’s history.

Miller’s 22 serious submission attempts are the eighth most in UFC history and his 10 serious submission attempts against Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 11 are a single-fight UFC record.

Miller’s submission of Jorge Gurgel at the 4:48 mark of Round 3 at UFC 86 is the latest submission victory ever in a three-round UFC fight.

Miller’s 143 significant strikes landed against Nam Phan at UFC on FOX 4 are the second most ever landed in UFC/WEC featherweight history. Phan leads the category for his 174 significant strikes against Leonard Garcia at UFC 136.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Charlie Brenneman (19-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) returns to the UFC after being released from the organization in 2012. “The Spaniard” has won four fights with three submission finishes since his release.

Justin Edwards (8-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) makes his lightweight debut after competing in his first five UFC bouts as a welterweight.

Edwards has alternated losses and wins throughout his UFC career.

Edwards’ 45-second submission of Josh Neer at UFC on FX 5 is the fourth fastest submission in UFC welterweight history.

Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has won his past three fights by split decision.

Vallie-Flagg enters the fight on a 12-bout undefeated streak. He has not suffered an MMA loss since July 2007.

Elias Silverio (9-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will compete in the lightweight division after winning his octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 28 as a middleweight.

Trevor Smith (10-4 MMA, 0-1) enters the event with just one victory in his past four UFC/Strikeforce fights.

For more on UFC Fight Night 35, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Luke Rockhold)