50 post-event facts about ‘UFC on FOX 9: Johnson vs. Benavidez II’

UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson (19-2-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC) dispelled any doubts about his finishing ability as he absolutely starched Joseph Benavidez (19-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) for a first-round knockout win at Saturday’s UFC on FOX 9 event.

Johnson’s third network-televised main event, which took place at Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena, was his most impressive showing yet. A colossal right hand at the 2:08 mark of the opening round put a stamp on his rivalry with Benavidez for the foreseeable future.

“Mighty Mouse” further elevated his status as 125-pound royalty with his third title defense of the calendar year, joining just four other fighters in the promotion’s history to accomplish such a feat in such a timeframe.

While fans would typically complain about a fight card that saw eight of 11 fights go the distance, each bout had its share of action, and Johnson’s memorable knockout capped off a success evening of fights.

With organization’s second-to-last fight card of the year in the books, FightMetric‘s (www.fightmetric.com) research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll and MMAjunkie’s Mike Bohn help bring 50 post-fight facts to come out of UFC on FOX 9.

GENERAL

Edson Barboza, Danny Castillo, Urijah Faber and Johnson earned $50,000 UFC on FOX 9 fight-night bonuses.

UFC on FOX 9 drew an announced attendance of 11,573 for a live gate of $1.066 million.

Betting favorites went 8-3 on the card.

Total fight time of the card was 2:17:05, the longest 11-fight card since UFC 161 in June.

MAIN CARD

Johnson’s five UFC flyweight victories are the most in divisional history.

Johnson earned the first knockout victory of his 12-fight Zuffa career. His previous knockout win came in February 2010.

Johnson’s knockout at 2:08 of Round 1 was the fastest in UFC flyweight history. The brief contest also marked the shortest bout of his UFC/WEC career.

Johnson is the owner of the latest and earliest stoppage victories in UFC flyweight history, which he recorded at UFC on FOX 8 and UFC on FOX 9, respectively.

Johnson did not complete a takedown for just the second time in his UFC/WEC career.

Johnson has earned a different fight-night bonus in his past three UFC appearances. He is one of four fighters in history (Donald Cerrone, Chan Sung Jung, Wilson Gouveia) to win three different fight-night bonuses spanning across three UFC fights.

Benavidez was knocked out for the first time in his 22-fight career.

Benavidez’s loss dropped Team Alpha Male fighters to 0-5 in UFC interim or undisputed championship fights.

Faber’s (30-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the third longest in the bantamweight division behind Raphael Assuncao (five) and interim champ Renan Barao (six).

Faber became the first UFC fighter to earn four octagon victories in 2013. Given the current UFC schedule, no other fighter will accomplish the feat.

Faber’s 11 submission victories in UFC/WEC competition are tied with Royce Gracie for the most by any fighter in the combined history of the two promotions.

Faber’s four UFC bantamweight finishes are the most in divisional history.

Faber’s five submission victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the most in the combined history of the two promotions.

Faber remained undefeated in non-title fights.

Faber’s 11 UFC/WEC fight-night bonuses are tied for the second most in the combined history of the two promotions.

Michael McDonald (16-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has been finished by knockout or submission in all three of his professional losses. Both of his UFC defeats are by submission.

Chad Mendes‘ (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) seven UFC featherweight victories are the most for any fighter in divisional history.

Mendes’ five-fight UFC winning streak is tied with Jose Aldo, Cub Swanson and Dennis Bermudez for the longest in the featherweight division.

Mendes’ 11th UFC/WEC featherweight victory gave him sole possession for the second most wins in the combined history of the two organizations behind Aldo (13).

Mendes’ seven completed takedowns were the most of his eight-fight UFC career. His 37 takedowns overall in UFC/WEC featherweight competition are the most ever.

Nik Lentz (24-6-2 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) suffered his first defeat in four fights since dropping to the UFC featherweight division.

Joe Lauzon (23-9 MMA, 10-6 UFC) became the seventh fighter in UFC history to earn 10 lightweight victories with the promotion.

Lauzon earned the first decision victory of his 32-fight career.

Lauzon’s nine successful guard passes matched his UFC career high.

Lauzon’s moved to third all-time in UFC history with 26 submission attempts. Lytle leads the category (31).

Mac Danzig (21-12-1 MMA, 5-8 UFC) fell to 3-8 in his past 11 UFC fights.

Danzig’s eighth UFC defeat tied him with Joe Stevenson for the most for any winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Ryan LaFlare (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) improved to 4-0 since returning from a two-and-a-half-year layoff in January.

LaFlare earned his second UFC victory in a 35-day span after also winning at UFC Fight Night 32 on Nov. 9.

Court McGee (16-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) suffered his first loss since dropping to the UFC welterweight division. “The Crusher” has been defeated by decision in all four of his professional defeats.

Bobby Green (22-5 MMA, 3-0 UFC) set a career-high winning streak with his seventh consecutive MMA victory.

Green earned his second UFC victory in a 38-day span after also winning at UFC Fight Night 31 on Nov. 6.

Green’s 80 significant strikes landed were the most by any fighter on the card.

Pat Healy (29-18 MMA, 0-3 UFC) has lost back-to-back fights for the first time since 2005-2006.

Zach Makovsky (17-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned his second MMA win in a 22-day span. He also won a five-round title fight at RFA 11 prior to UFC on FOX 9.

Scott Jorgensen (14-8 MMA, 3-4 UFC) fell to 1-4 in his past five UFC appearances.

Sam Stout‘s (20-9-1 MMA, 9-8 UFC) 14 UFC fights to go to a decision are the most for any fighter in organizational history. “Hands of Stone” has earned eight of his nine UFC victories by decision.

Stout has alternated wins and losses in his past eight UFC fights.

Stout’s 54 significant strikes landed pushed his UFC career total to 965, second only to former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (1,254).

Cody McKenzie (14-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) was defeated by decision for the first time in his 18-fight career.

Roger Bowling (11-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is winless in his past four MMA fights, the longest draught of his professional career.

Bowling has been knocked out in four of his five professional defeats.

Darren Uyenoyama (8-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) is on the first two-fight losing skid of his career.

Uyenoyama was defeated by decision for the first time since June 15, 2008 – a span of 2,008 days (6.5 years) and seven fights.

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 9, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.