The UFC begins its final stretch of events at the UFC Apex this year Saturday with UFC Fight Night 244 in Las Vegas, which streams on ESPN+.
A key flyweight matchup is set to headline the card. Former title challenger Brandon Royval (16-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will clash with undefeated Japanese sensation Tatsuro Taira (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a five-round bout with title contention stakes.
For more on the numbers, check out MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 244.
* * * *
Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
Brandon Royval
Royval has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage.
Royval has earned four of his five UFC victories by stoppage.
Royval’s three submission victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Johnson (five), Pantoja (four) and Mokaev (four).
Tatsuro Taira
Taira’s 16-fight MMA winning streak is tied with Asu Almabayev for the longest among active fighters in the UFC flyweight division.
Taira’s five-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is the second-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (six).
Taira has earned 12 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.
Taira absorbs just 1.72 significant strikes per minute in UFC flyweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Muhammad Mokaev (1.35).
Brad Tavares vs. Jun Yong Park
Brad Tavares (20-9 MMA, 15-9 UFC) competes in his 25th UFC middleweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history. He was previously tied with Michael Bisping at 24.
Tavares’ 15 victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Bisping (16).
Tavares’ total fight time of 5:07:35 in UFC middleweight competition is second-most in divisional history behind Bisping (5:15:15).
Tavares’ 13 decision victories in UFC middleweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Tavares’ 13 decision victories in UFC competition are tied for second-most in company history behind Neil Magny (14).
Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia
Grant Dawson (21-2-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) is 5-1-1 since he moved up to the UFC lightweight division in March 2020.
Dawson’s knockout at the 4:59 mark of Round 3 at UFC on ESPN 21 is tied for the second latest stoppage in a three-round UFC fight. Ricky Simon holds the record (5:00, Round 3) at UFC Fight Night 128.
Dawson lands 57.1 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Islam Makhachev (60.3 percent) and Justin Gaethje (57.1 percent).
Julia Polastri vs. Cory McKenna
Cory McKenna (8-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is one of five fighters in UFC history to earn a submission victory by Von Flue choke. Jason Von Flue, Ovince Saint Preux, Jordan Rinaldi and Alonzo Menifield also won with the technique.
Daniel Rodriguez vs. Alex Morono
Daniel Rodriguez’s (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since September 2022.
Rodriguez lands 7.55 significant strikes per minute in UFC welterweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Josh Fremd
Abdul Razak Alhassan (13-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) is 3-3 with on no contest since he moved up to the UFC middleweight division in April 2021.
Alhassan’s 17-second knockout at UFC on ESPN 30 marked the fastest finish in UFC history stemming from a head kick.
CJ Vergara vs. Ramazonbek Temirov
CJ Vergara (12-5-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC) lands 57.7 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.
Vergara lands 5.15 significant strikes per minute in UFC flyweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Joshua Van (8.39).
Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden
Chidi Njokuani’s (23-10 MMA, 3-3 UFC) 16-second victory at UFC Fight Night 200 marked the second-fastest debut in UFC middleweight history behind Marc Weir’s 10-second win at UFC 38.
Jared Gooden (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) is 1-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in March 2023.
Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini
Jonathan Pearce (14-6 MMA, 5-3 UFC) lands 50 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC featherweight competition, the tied for the second-best rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Ricardo Ramos (60 percent).
Pat Sabatini (18-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) absorbs just 1.54 significant strikes per minute in UFC featherweight competition, the second-lowest rate in divisional history behind Rani Yahya (1.05).
Themba Gorimbo vs. Niko Price
Niko Price (16-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from an upkick. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 19. Jon Fitch and Irene Alana also won with the technique.
Price has earned two of the six knockout victories in UFC history stemming from the bottom position. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 19 and UFC Fight Night 133.
Price has earned one of four knockouts in UFC history stemming from punches from bottom position. Kevin Holland, Paul Craig and Cameron Saaiman also accomplished the feat.
Chris Barnett vs. Junior Tafa
Chris Barnett (23-8 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has earned all 18 of his career stoppage victories by knockout.
Barnett is one of 14 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a wheel kick. He’s one of two heavyweights to accomplish the feat, along with Junior Dos Santos.
Dan Argueta vs. Cody Haddon
Dan Argueta’s (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) three-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since January 2023.
Argueta is 0-1 with two no contests since he dropped to the UFC bantamweight division in June 2023.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login