UFC on ESPN 68 pre-event facts: Ludovit Klein brings historic defense vs. Mateusz Gamrot
UFC on ESPN 68 pre-event facts: Ludovit Klein brings historic defense vs. Mateusz Gamrot
After a week hiatus, the UFC returns on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 68 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
A high-stakes women's flyweight headliner is the center piece of the card. Top contenders Erin Blanchfield (13-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Maycee Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) meet in a five-round bout with significant stakes on the title picture.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 68.
Erin Blanchfield vs. Maycee Barber
Erin Blanchfield
Blanchfield's three stoppage victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Gillian Robertson (seven), Valentina Shevchenko (five) and Montana De La Rosa (four).
Blanchfield's three submission victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Robertson (six).
Blanchfield's seven takedowns landed at UFC 269 are tied for the single-fight record for a UFC women's flyweight bout.
Maycee Barber
Barber's six-fight UFC winning streak at women's flyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Natalia Silva (seven).
Barber's eight victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Shevchenko (11) and Katlyn Cerminara (nine).
Barber is 8-2 since she moved up to the UFC women's flyweight division in March 2019.
Barber's three stoppage victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Robertson (seven), Shevchenko (five) and De La Rosa (four).
Barber's three knockout victories in UFC women's flyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Shevchenko (four).
Barber absorbs just 2.4 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's flyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Shevchenko (1.88) and Natalia Silva (2.1).
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Ludovit Klein
Mateusz Gamrot's (24-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has completed 43 takedowns in UFC lightweight competition, the most among active fighters in the weight class.
Ludovit Klein's (23-4-1 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) seven-fight unbeaten streak in UFC lightweight competition is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Islam Makhachev (14).
Klein has defended 95.2 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Billy Ray Goff
Ramiz Brahimaj (11-5 MMA, 3-3 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past 11 fights dating back to May 2018. He was victorious in his most recent bout at UFC 309.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Bruno Lopes
Dustin Jacoby (20-9-1 MMA, 8-6-1 UFC) is 8-5-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in October 2020.
Jacoby lands 6.06 significant strikes per minute in UFC light heavyweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Carlos Ulberg (6.82) and Jamahal Hill (6.76).
Zachary Reese vs. Dusko Todorovic
Dusko Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) is 2-5 in his past seven fights after starting his career on a 11-fight winning streak.
Trevin Giles vs. Andreas Gustafsson
Trevin Giles' (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2023.
Giles is 2-4 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2022.
Ketlen Vieira vs. Macy Chiasson
Ketlen Vieira's (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) eight victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (13) and Raquel Pennington (12).
Vieira's seven decision victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Pennington (10).
Vieira defends 88.9 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Macy Chiasson's (10-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at women's bantamweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Ailin Perez (five).
Chiasson's four stoppage victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Nunes (eight) and Ronda Rousey (six).
Chiasson's three knockout victories in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Nunes (six).
Chiasson absorbs just 2.0 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the second-best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Perez (1.83).
Kurt Holobaugh vs. Jordan Leavitt
Jordan Leavitt (11-3 MA, 4-3 UFC) is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 19.
Leavitt's 22-second slam knockout at UFC on ESPN 19 is tied for the second fastest in UFC history behind Josh Burkman's 21-second win at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale in November 2005.
Leavitt's 22-second victory at UFC on ESPN 19 is the second-fastest finish for a debuting lightweight in UFC history behind Terrance McKinney's seven-second win at UFC 263.
Leavitt is of three fighters in UFC history to earn a reverse triangle submission. He accomplished the feat at UFC Fight Night 199. Cole Miller and Olivier Aubin-Mercier have also won with the technique.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
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