UFC Fight Night 42 pre-fight facts: Henderson out to snap record streak of decisions

The UFC’s blazing events schedule has taken to the octagon to many new locations this year. On Saturday, one more will be added to the list with the first-ever event in Albuquerque, N.M.

UFC Fight Night 42, which takes place at Tingley Coliseum, features one of the more compelling lineups the organization has put together lately.

The most significant matchup on the card comes in the FOX Sports 1-televised main event as former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson (20-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) continues his quest back to the gold with a high-risk, low-reward fight against Russian standout Rustam Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

Henderson will be one of five fighters on the card who once held or challenged for a UFC belt.

With 10 of the 11 bouts on the card schedule to take place at 155 pounds or lighter, UFC Fight Night 42 is likely to have its share of fast and furious action. How do the numbers going into that action stack up? Check out these 65 pre-fight facts to find out.

MAIN EVENT

Henderson will compete in his seventh consecutive five-round UFC main event. “Smooth” is 6-1 in those headlining appearances.

Henderson became the first former UFC lightweight champion to win his first fight after losing his belt when he defeated Josh Thomson at UFC on FOX 10.

Henderson’s seven-fight UFC winning streak prior to his loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC 164 was tied for the second longest streak in divisional history behind Gray Maynard (eight).

Henderson has earned all eight of his UFC victories by decision. He is the only fighter in UFC history to ever start his or her career with the promotion with eight decision wins.

Henderson has not earned a stoppage victory in 199 minutes and 41 second of MMA competition dating back to his submission of Donald Cerrone at WEC 48 in April 2010.

Henderson’s average fight time of 19:25 is the longest in UFC lightweight history and the second longest of any fighter in company history with at least five bouts behind Jose Aldo (20:20). His total fight time of 4:06:42 in UFC/WEC lightweight competition is the most in the combined history of the two organizations.

Henderson’s strike differential rate of +1.66 is the third best in lightweight history among fighters with at least five bouts behind T.J. Grant (+2.19) and Ramsey Nijem (+2.17).

Henderson has completed 45 takedowns in UFC/WEC lightweight competition, the third most in the combined history of the two organizations behind Gleison Tibau (71) and Clay Guida (48).

Henderson has landed 58.1 percent of his takedowns in UFC lightweight competition, the third highest accuracy rate of any fighter in divisional history with at least five bouts and 20 attempts behind B.J. Penn (66.7 percent) and Jamie Varner (63.9 percent).

Khabilov’s three-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the fifth longest active streak in the lightweight division behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (six), Grant (five), Myles Jury (five) and Anthony Pettis (four).

Khabilov has earned two of his three UFC victories by first-round stoppage.

Khabilov is one of eight fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a slam takedown. He accomplished the feat against Vinc Pichel at the TUF 16 Finale.

CO-MAIN EVENT

Diego Sanchez (24-7 MMA, 13-7 UFC) has earned his past five UFC victories by decision. “The Dream” has not finished an opponent since he stopped Luigi Fioravanti at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in June 2008.

Sanchez has recorded 13 victories inside the UFC’s octagon; however, just one of those wins came against a fighter who is actively competing in the organization’s lightweight division. Five of those fighters are still members of the UFC roster.

Sanchez’s 13 UFC victories are the second most for any “TUF” winner behind Michael Bisping (14).

Sanchez has been awarded six “Fight of the Night” bonuses during his UFC career, the second most in company history behind Frankie Edgar (seven).

Sanchez has attempted 2,042 significant strikes in his UFC career, the seventh most of any fighter in organizational history. He’s attempted more significant strikes than his opponent in 12 of his 13 UFC wins.

Sanchez’s total fight time of 4:22:57 over his 20-fight UFC career is the sixth most in UFC history behind Georges St-Pierre (5:28:12), B.J. Penn (5:03:51), Tito Ortiz (5:00:53), Randy Couture (4:41:50) and Edgar (4:31:09). The 32-year-old has spent more time in the octagon than any non-champion in the organization’s existence.

Sanchez is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from a flying knee strike. He used the technique to stop Joe Riggs at UFC Fight Night 7 and Fioravanti at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale.

Sanchez has attempted 133 takedowns in UFC competition, the fourth most company history behind Clay Guida (143), Demian Maia (142) and Nik Lentz (137).

Ross Pearson (15-6 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is 2-0 with one no-contest since returning to the UFC lightweight division in December 2012.

Pearson lands 98 percent of his significant strikes in UFC competition while standing, the third largest proportion among active lightweights. His 25.2 percent clinch striking proportion is the third best among active lightweights.

Pearson has out-landed his opponent in total strikes in all seven of his UFC victories.

Pearson’s significant strike defense rate of 71.7 percent ranks third in lightweight history among fighters with at least five bouts and 350 opponent attempts behind John Makdessi (75.5 percent) and Edgar (71.8 percent).

REMAINING MAIN CARD

John Dodson (15-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and John Moraga (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) compete in a rematch of a December 2011 contest under the Nemesis Fighting banner. Dodson was victorious in a three-round unanimous decision at that event.

Dodson’s three UFC flyweight victories are tied for the fourth most in divisional history behind champion Demetrious Johnson (five), Joseph Benavidez (four) and John Lineker (four).

Dodson’s five knockdowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are the second most in divisional history behind Lineker (six).

Dodson became one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a title shot after appearing on “TUF” when he challenged Johnson for the 125-pound title at UFC on FOX 6.

Dodson is the only fighter to knock out UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw in MMA competition. He accomplished the feat at the TUF 14 Finale in December 2011.

Dodson’s knockout of Darrell Montague at the 4:13 mark of Round 1 at UFC 166 stands as the fifth fastest in UFC flyweight history. Johnson holds the record with his knockout of Benavidez at UFC on FOX 9.

Dodson has suffered all six of his career losses by decision.

Dodson’s 80.8 percent takedown defense is the third highest in the combined history of the UFC flyweight and bantamweight divisions among fighters with at least five bouts and 20 opponent attempts.

Moraga’s three UFC flyweight victories are tied for the fourth most in divisional history behind Johnson (five), Benavidez (four) and Lineker (four).

Moraga has earned all three of his UFC victories by a different method.

Moraga is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from standing elbow strikes. He accomplished the feat against Ulysses Gomez at UFC on FOX 4.

Rafael dos Anjos’ (20-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) nine career UFC lightweight victories are tied for the ninth most in divisional history behind Gleison Tibau (13), Jim Miller (13), Melvin Guillard (11), Yves Edwards (10), B.J. Penn (10), Nate Diaz (10), Joe Lauzon (10) and Donald Cerrone (10).

Dos Anjos is 5-1 in his past six UFC appearances with the lone defeat coming to Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Dos Anjos has earned his past four UFC victories by decision. He has earned six of his nine wins with the promotion overall by taking his opponent the distance.

Jason High (18-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will compete in the lightweight division for the first time in his UFC career. He moves to a new weight class despite earning his past two victories with the promotion at welterweight.

Yves Edwards (42-20-1 MMA, 10-8 UFC) will compete in his 19th UFC lightweight bout, the most of any fighter in history. His total fight time of 2:54:55 ranks ninth all-time in divisional history.

Edwards’ 10 career UFC lightweight victories are tied for the fourth most in divisional history behind Tibau (13), Miller (13) and Guillard (11).

Edwards has suffered 20 defeats in his professional career, the most of any active fight on the UFC roster. “Thugjitsu Master” enters the event with just one victory in his past five UFC appearances.

Edwards’ eight knockdowns landed in UFC lightweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Guillard (13).

Edwards is just one of seven fighters in UFC history to earn two or more knockout victories stemming from a kick to the head. He accomplished the feat against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC on VERSUS 6 and Josh Thomson at UFC 49.

Edwards’ 69.8 percent significant strike defense rate is sixth in lightweight history. John Makdessi holds the record with a 75.5 percent defense rate.

Erik Perez’s (14-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) average fight time of 7:41 is the third shortest in UFC bantamweight history behind John Albert (4:24) and Iuri Alcantara (7:01).

Perez is the only fighter in UFC bantamweight history to earn three straight first-round finishes. He accomplished the feat against Byron Bloodworth at UFC 155, Ken Stone at UFC 150 and John Albert at the TUF 15 Finale.

Perez’s 17-second knockout of Stone at UFC 150 stands as fastest in UFC/WEC bantamweight history.

Perez absorbs just 1.9 strikes per minute of fighting, the second least among bantamweights with at least five UFC fights behind Chico Camus (1.31).

Perez lands 4.69 takedowns per 15 minutes of fighting, the highest rate in UFC/WEC bantamweight history among fighters with at least five bouts.

Perez’s seven takedowns landed against Edwin Figueroa at UFC 167 stand in a tie for the fourth most in a single UFC/WEC bantamweight contest. Three fighters hold the record with 10 takedowns landed in a single fight.

Bryan Caraway (18-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned 16 of his 18 professional victories by submission. That includes all three of his UFC victories. Of those 16 submissions, 10 are by rear-naked choke.

Caraway’s submission of Johny Bedford at 4:44 of Round 3 at UFC 159 tied him for the fourth latest submission victory in a three-round UFC bout behind Cole Miller’s tap-out of Jorge Gurgel at UFC 86, James Krause’s submission of Sam Stout at UFC 161, and Forrest Griffin’s finish of Mauricio Rua at UFC 76.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Sergio Pettis (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), 20, is the youngest of the 22 fighters scheduled to compete at the event. He is also the youngest fighter currently signed to the UFC roster.

Pettis became the seventh youngest fighter in UFC history to record an octagon victory when he defeated Will Campuzano in his debut at UFC 167.

Pettis landed 81 of his 121 significant strike attempts in his UFC debut, giving him a 67 percent striking accuracy. That percentage ranks second all-time in a UFC/WEC bantamweight fight with a minimum of 100 significant strike attempts behind T.J. Dillashaw, who landed 74.6 of his significant strike attempts against Walel Watson at UFC on FUEL TV 1.

Bobby Voelker (24-11 MMA, 0-3 UFC) enters the event on the first three-fight losing streak of his career. He has not earned an MMA victory since July 2011.

Lance Benoist (6-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) returns to the octagon for the first time since UFC 152 in September 2012. His 623-day layoff is the longest of his MMA career.

Scott Jorgensen (14-9 MMA, 3-5 UFC) enters the event with just one victory in his past six UFC appearances. “Young Guns” is 0-2 since dropping to the UFC flyweight division this past December.

Jorgensen has earned three victories in his UFC career; however, none of those fighters is still a member of the organization’s roster.

Jorgensen holds the record for most wins in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition with 10.

Patrick Cummins (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has earned all four of his professional victories by first-round knockout or submission.

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.