UFC on ESPN 72 pre-event facts: Anthony Hernandez's takedown game tops at 185 pounds

USA Today

12 hours ago

The two-stretch of events at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas concludes Saturday with UFC on ESPN 72, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
An important middleweight clash serves as the headliner of the card, with streaking contenders Roman Dolidze (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Anthony Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) booked for a five-round contest.
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 72.
Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez
Roman Dolidze
Dolidze is 6-3 since he dropped to the middleweight division in March 2020.
Dolidze has earned 11 of his 15 career victories by stoppage.
Anthony Hernandez
Hernandez's seven-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied with Caio Borralho for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Dricus Du Plessis (nine).
Hernandez's seven-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied for seventh-longest in divisional history behind Anderson Silva (13), Israel Adesanya (12), Chris Weidman (nine), Du Plessis (nine), Yoel Romero (eight) and Robert Whittaker (eight).
Hernandez lands 63.4 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Hernandez outlanded Michel Pereira by +128 significant strikes at UFC Fight Night 245, the single-fight UFC middleweight record.
Hernandez landed 97 significant ground strikes at UFC Fight Night 245, the single-fight UFC middleweight record.
Hernandez attempted 29 takedowns at UFC Fight Night 245, the single-fight UFC middleweight record.
Hernandez has completed 45 takedowns in UFC middleweight competition, the most in divisional history. Chris Weidman held the previous record with 43.
Hernandez is one of five fighters in UFC history to land 100+ significant strikes and 10 or more takedowns in a single fight during his UFC Fight Night 245 win. Merab Dvalishvili, Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman and Cain Velasquez also accomplished the feat.
Steve Erceg vs. Ode Osbourne
Steve Erceg's (12-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since March 2024.
Iasmin Lucindo vs. Angela Hill
Angela Hill (18-14 MMA, 13-14 UFC) competes in her 27th UFC strawweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Hill is one of two females in UFC history to make 25 or more octagon appearances. Jessica Andrade was first to accomplish the feat.
Hill's 12 victories in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history.
Hill has earned 10 of her 13 UFC victories by decision.
Hill's two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Andrade (four), Amanda Lemos (three) and Denise Gomes (three).
Hill's three knockdowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Lemos (six), Andrade (five) and Rose Namajunas (four).
Hill has landed 2,122 significant strikes in UFC competition, the third-most in company history behind Max Holloway (3,655) and Sean Strickland (2,197).
Hill's five fight-night bonuses for UFC strawweight bouts are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Andrade (nine), Mackenzie Dern (seven) and Namajunas (six).
Hill's 14 losses in UFC competition are most of any female in company history.
Christian Rodriguez vs. Andre Fili
Christian Rodriguez (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) is 2-2 since he moved up to the UFC featherweight division in March 2024.
Andre Fili (24-12 MMA, 12-11 UFC) competes in his 25th UFC featherweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Darren Elkins (28) and Max Holloway (27).
Fili's 12 victories in UFC featherweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Holloway (20), Elkins (18) and Cub Swanson (15).
Miles Johns vs. Jean Matsumoto
Miles Johns (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) defends 71.3 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC bantamweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Vaughan Lee (71.5 percent).
Elijah Smith vs. Toshiomi Kazama
Elijah Smith (8-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), son of UFC veteran Gilbert Smith, is one of two second-generation fighters in company history. Ryan Couture, son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, also accomplished the feat.
Priscila Cachoeira vs. Joselyne Edwards
Priscila Cachoeira's (12-6 MMA, 4-6 UFC) 40-second knockout at UFC Fight Night 168 is the fastest stoppage in UFC women's flyweight history.
Cachoeira's two knockdowns landed in UFC women's bantamweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Amanda Nunes (six).
Uros Medic vs. Gilbert Urbina
Uros Medic (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is 2-2 since he moved up to the welterweight division in July 2023.
Medic has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage. He's finished all four of his UFC wins by knockout.
Medic is one of eight fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back elbow. He accomplished the feat at UFC 291.
Gabriella Fernandes vs. Julija Stoliarenko
Gabriella Fernandes (10-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) stopped her opponent despite a -28 significant strike differential at UFC Fight Night 248, the second-largest disparity in UFC women's flyweight history.
Julija Stoliarenko's (11-8-2 MMA, 2-6 UFC) is one of three females in UFC history to compete in three weight class. J. Andrade and Valerie Letourneau also accomplished the feat.
Stoliarenko's 42-second win at UFC 276 marked the second-fastest submission in UFC women's bantamweight history behind Ronda Rousey's 14-second stoppage over Cat Zingano at UFC 184 in February 2015.
Cody Brundage vs. Eric McConico
Cody Brundage (11-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN 52.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.