30 post-event facts about 'UFC Fight Night 31: Fight for the Troops 3'

While UFC Fight Night 31 was criticized for having a “weak” main event, Tim Kennedy delivered the most memorable moment of the evening with a devastating first-round knockout of Rafael Natal.

Prior to Kennedy’s (17-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC) arrival in the octagon, the group of former or active armed forces members on the card went winless in three tries, as Liz Carmouche, Colton Smith and Neil Magny came up short.

The former Strikeforce title challenger turned that around quickly, though, as he capped off the evening with a violent finish of Natal (17-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) in what was his most definitive performance in years.

Kennedy wasn’t the only one to finish off his opponent inside the distance on Wednesday night. Eight of the 13 bouts on the card ended in a knockout or submission.

Those are the facts, and with the help of FightMetric, check out all 30 post-fight facts to come out of UFC Fight Night 31.

GENERAL
Kennedy, Michael Chiesa, Rustam Khabilov and Jorge Masvidal earned $50,000 post-fight bonuses.

Betting favorites went 9-4 at the event.

Total fight time of the 13-bout card was 1:56:41.

MAIN CARD
Kennedy earned his first knockout victory since Dec. 29, 2007 – a span of 2,139 days (nearly six years) and 10 fights.

Kennedy’s fight-ending knockdown of Natal was the first of his nine-fight UFC/Strikeforce career.

Natal has been knocked out in four of his five career defeats.

Alexis Davis‘ (15-5 MMA, 2-0 UFC) two-fight UFC winning streak is tied with Amanda Nunes for the longest in the women’s bantamweight division.

Yoel Romero (6-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has knocked out his opponent in all six of his career victories.

Ronny Markes (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) was defeated by knockout for the first time in his 16-fight career.

Chiesa (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned his past six wins by rear-naked choke submission.

Chiesa is one of 11 fighters in UFC history to earn three or more rear-naked choke submissions inside the octagon.

Colton Smith (3-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) was submitted for the first time in his career.

PRELIMINARY CARD
Bobby Green (21-5 MMA, 2-0 UFC) matched a career-high winning streak with his sixth consecutive victory.

Green earned his first knocked victory since Feb. 25, 2010 – a span of 1,350 days (nearly four years) and 10 fights.

James Krause (20-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was knocked out for the first time in his 25-fight career.

Francisco Rivera‘s (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) four knockdowns landed are the second most in UFC bantamweight history behind Michael McDonald (five).

George Roop (14-10-1 MMA, 4-6 UFC) suffered his first loss since returning to the UFC bantamweight division.

Dennis Bermudez‘s (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak is tied with Jose Aldo and Cub Swanson for the longest in the featherweight division.

Bermudez improved to 5-1 since losing to Diego Brandao at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale.

Bermudez was credited with six takedowns in his fight, giving him 20 total in his UFC career, which is the second most in UFC featherweight history behind Jimy Hettes (21).

Steven Siler (23-11 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was defeated by decision for just the second time in his 34-fight career. He also lost by decision to Darren Elkins at UFC 154.

Siler’s three submission attempts tied him with Urijah Faber and Elkins for the most in UFC/WEC featherweight history at 10.

Nunes (9-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) became the first fighter in the UFC women’s bantamweight division to earn two victories.

Nunes two-fight UFC winning streak is tied with Davis for the longest in the women’s bantamweight division.

Germaine de Randamie (4-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was defeated by knockout for the first time in her career.

Yancy Medeiros (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) registered his first MMA victory since June 2010.

Magny (8-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) suffered the first decision loss of his 11-fight career.

Derek Brunson‘s (11-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) 48-second submission of Brian Houston was the fourth fastest in UFC middleweight history.

Houston (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was submitted for the first time in his five-fight career.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 31, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Yoel Romero and Ronny Markes)