UFC on ESPN 71 pre-event facts: Neil Magny can join second tier on all-time wins list

USA Today

2 days ago

For the first time in more than two months, the octagon returns to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 71.
The main event will see Japanese flyweight contender Tatsuro Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) take on South Korea's undefeated rising name HyunSung Park (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), who steps in on short notice as a replacement for the injured Amir Albazi.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie's pre-event facts.
Tatsuro Taira vs. HyunSung Park
Taira has earned 12 of his 16 career victories by stoppage.
Elves Brener vs. Esteban Ribovics
Esteban Ribovics' (14-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) 37-second knockout victory at UFC on ESPN 56 marked the fastest head kick finish in UFC lightweight history.
Esteban Ribovics (14-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) lands 8.07 significant strikes per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Frank Camacho (8.91).
Karol Rosa vs. Nora Cornolle
Karol Rosa (18-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over her past eight fights dating back to October 2021. She was defeated in her most recent bout in January.
Rosa has earned all seven of her UFC victories by decision.
Rosa lands 56.7 percent of her significant strike attempts in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the third-best rate in divisional history behind Mayra Bueno Silva (64.8 percent) and Yana Santos (58.3 percent).
Rosa lands 6.87 significant strikes per minute in UFC women's bantamweight competition, the second-highest rate in divisional history behind Leslie Smith (7.69).
Rosa and Irene Aldana combined for 349 significant strikes landed at UFC 296, the single-fight record for a UFC women's bantamweight fight.
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Neil Magny (29-13 MMA, 22-12 UFC) competes in his 35th UFC welterweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Magny's 22 victories in UFC competition are tied for sixth-most in company history behind Jim Miller (26), Andrei Arlovski (23), Donald Cerrone (23), Charles Oliveira (23) and Max Holloway (23).
Magny's 22 victories in UFC welterweight competition are most in divisional history.
Magny's total fight time of 6:56:48 in UFC welterweight competition is most in divisional history.
Magny's 14 decision victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Magny has landed 1,428 significant strikes and 2,561 total strikes in UFC welterweight competition, the most in divisional history.
Magny is the only fighter in modern UFC history to make five or more octagon appearances in consecutive years. He went 4-1 in 2015 after going 5-0 in 2014.
Magny is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn five victories in a calendar year, as he did in 2014. Kevin Holland (2020) and Roger Huerta (2007) also accomplished the feat.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-9-1 MMA, 11-5-1 UFC) is one of three fighters in history to earn UFC knockouts stemming from a flying knee and a spinning wheel kick. Cory Sandhagen and Edson Barboza also accomplished the feat.
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Tresean Gore
Rodolfo Vieira's (10-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) five submission victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Gerald Meerschaert (nine) and Brendan Allen (six).
Vieira's four submission victories by arm-triangle choke in UFC competition are most in company history.
Piera Rodriguez vs. Ketlen Souza
Piera Rodriguez (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) completes 64.3 percent of her takedown attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.