Fight Facts: UFC 2020, a Year in Review

It’s What Fans Crave

Can’t You Hear Me Knocking: Fewer clean KO victories came in 2020 than the previous year, while the knockout rate did rise from 2019. With just 51 taking place through 2020, it is the lowest raw number since 2012 saw 50.

Crazy Things on Fight Island: UFC Fight Night 179 marked the first event in organization history to see multiple spinning kick knockouts take place in the same night. Joaquin Buckley posterized Impa Kasanganay, while Cory Sandhagen dispatched Marlon Moraes.

Highlight Reeled for Eternity: One of the greatest knockouts in promotional history was authored by Buckley, when his high kick was caught by Kasanganay. Buckley spun around with his foot in the air to knock Kasanganay out cold with his other foot.

Spinning Back to Basics: Beneil Dariush recorded the eighth spinning backfist knockout in company history by putting away Scott Holtzman. He is the only fighter of those eight to do so at a catchweight, as he missed the lightweight cap by two pounds ahead of UFC Fight Night 184.

I Think You’ve Had Enough: One fighter’s corner intervened to save their fighter’s health this year. Sam Hughes suffered eye damage at the end of the first round against Tecia Torres at UFC 256, and her corner stopped the fight for her. It marked the first corner stoppage TKO since 2018.

No, Now You’ve Had Enough…: Another fighter called it quits on the stool between rounds, as Max Rohskopf concluded his fight at the 10-minute mark against Austin Hubbard at UFC on ESPN 11. The last stoppage of this kind happened at UFC Fight Night 45 in 2014.

Chim Chim Cher-ee: The quickest knockout this year came at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev, who walked Gerald Meerschaert down and punched him out in 17 seconds. Despite its blazing speed, it did not crack into the Top 30 fastest knockouts across UFC history.

To Break ‘The Streak’: Justin Gaethje finished Tony Ferguson at 3:39 of the fifth round to win the interim lightweight strap at UFC 249. The knockout slotted itself as the fourth-latest in company history.

Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma’am: Slams accounted for a pair of finishes this year, as Jordan Leavitt left Matt Wiman unconscious with one at UFC on ESPN 19. Additionally, Holland smashed Charlie Ontiveros at UFC Fight Night 181, forcing the newcomer to verbally submit due to the damage from Holland’s slam.

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If Sambo Was Easy…

It Is The Way: While still lower on the yearly submission rate across company history, 2020 marked an uptick from the previous year in submissions in both rate (18.2 percent) and quantity (83).

He Flew Off the Cage Like A Triangle: In the final event of the year, Jimmy Flick pulled off a flying triangle choke to submit Cody Durden in the first round. The submission is just the second of its type in promotional history – Pablo Garza’s submission went to the ground before it was set.

Johnson Has an Achilles Heel: Thiago Moises was able to pull off an unusual Achilles lock on Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 171, recording the first since UFC 79 in 2007 when Manny Gamburyan submitted Nate Mohr with the maneuver.

She Knows How to Choose Them: One single kneebar took place throughout the year, coming from Mackenzie Dern against Cifers at UFC on ESPN 9. It marked the first leglock submission in UFC women’s divisional history.

A True Big-Man Choke: Juan Espino pulled off the fifth scarf hold submission under the UFC banner when he submitted Jeff Hughes at UFC 253. It was the first since 2014, every one has taken place at the heavyweight division, and they have all gone down in the first round.

An Even-Bigger-Man Choke: Achieving a rare forearm choke – and putting Marcos Rogerio de Lima to sleep with it for good measure – Alexander Romanov secured the first submission of its kind since UFC 14 in 1997, when Dan Bobish put Brian Johnston away with one.

Snakes Getting Off the Plane: Just one anaconda choke came throughout 2020, when Makwan Amirkhani put Danny Henry to sleep in the first round of their UFC 251 encounter.

Gets Such A Bad Rap: One lone fighter tapped out to strikes this year, when Paul Craig forced Mauricio Rua to submit to punches at UFC 255. “Shogun” was the first fighter to surrender from strikes since David Branch had to tap to Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 116 in 2017.

Tendons Snapping Like Guitar Strings: Torqueing Luana Carolina’s knee at a dangerous angle from above, Ariane Lipski secured the sole verbal submission in 2020 from a grappling hold. The other verbal submission was the slam from Holland over Ontiveros.

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