UFC 223 prelims pre-event facts: Karolina Kowalkiewicz in need of statement vs. Felice Herrig

UFC 223 is the deepest event of the year thus far – so much so that the preliminary card for Saturday’s lineup, which takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, is worthy of its own pre-event facts showcase.

Former UFC strawweight title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) gets the prominent role on the preliminary card when she attempts to work her way toward another title shot against the streaking Felice Herrig (14-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

Check below for pre-fight facts about the UFC 223 preliminary card.

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Featured FS1 prelim

Karolina Kowalkiewicz.

Kowalkiewicz has earned all four of her UFC victories by decision. She hasn’t earned a stoppage since May 2014.

Kowalkiewicz defends 85.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the highest rate in divisional history.

Herrig’s five victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (eight) and Tecia Torres (six).

Herrig’s four-fight UFC winning streak in strawweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Herrig’s submission of Kailin Curran at the 1:59 mark of Round 1 at UFC on FOX 20 marked the second-fastest stoppage in UFC strawweight history. Maryna Moroz holds the record with a 90-second win at UFC Fight Night 64.

Other FS1 prelims

Ray Borg (11-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) absorbs just 1.92 significant strikes per minute in UFC flyweight competition, the third best rate in divisional history behind Justin Scoggins (1.59) and Demetrious Johnson (1.75).

Borg’s 11 submission attempts in UFC flyweight competition are third most in divisional history behind Louis Smolka (18) and Johnson (12).

Brandon Moreno’s (14-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) submission of Louis Smolka at 2:23 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night 96 marked the fastest victory by a debuting flyweight in UFC history.

Joe Lauzon

Joe Lauzon (27-14 MMA, 14-11 UFC) competes in his 26th UFC lightweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Jim Miller (27) and Gleison Tibau (27).

Lauzon’s 14 victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied for the fourth most in divisional history behind Miller (16), Tibau (16) and Donald Cerrone (15).

Lauzon has earned 25 of his 27 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 18 of those wins by submission.

Lauzon’s 12 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Lauzon’s seven submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are tied with Nate Diaz for most in divisional history.

Lauzon’s 29 submission attempts in UFC competition are third most in company history behind Miller (39) and Chris Lytle (31).

Lauzon has been awarded 15 fight-night bonuses during his UFC career, tied with Diaz for most in company history.

Evan Dunham’s (18-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) five-fight unbeaten streak is the longest of his more than nine-year UFC career.

Dunham is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in four separate bouts.

Dunham’s 1,196 significant strikes landed and 1,555 total strikes landed in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Dunham lands 5.46 significant strikes landed per minute in UFC lightweight competition, the third highest output rate in divisional history behind T.J. Grant (6.83), Marco Polo Reyes (6.69) and Dustin Poirier (6.26).

Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Olivier Aubin-Mercier (10-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has completed at least one takedown against seven of his eight UFC opponents.

Aubin-Mercier lands 56.5 percent of his significant strike attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the best rate in divisional history (minimum of five UFC fights and 350 attempts).

Aubin-Mercier landed just three significant strikes in his decision victory at UFC Fight Night 74, a record low for a winner of any three-round UFC fight to go the distance.

UFC Fight Pass prelims

Alex Caceres (13-11 MMA, 8-9 UFC) is 3-3 since he returned to the UFC featherweight division in January 2015.

Caceres is one of three fighters in UFC/WEC bantamweight history to land 100 or more significant strikes in two different fights. T.J. Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz also accomplished the feat.

Caceres’ submission of Sergio Pettis at the 4:39 mark of Round 3 at UFC on FOX 10 marked the second latest in a three-round UFC bantamweight fight. Only Bryan Caraway’s victory at the 4:44 mark of Round 3 at UFC 159 occurred later.

Artem Lobov

Artem Lobov (13-14-1 MMA, 2-4 UFC) has fought to a decision in all six of his UFC appearances. His average fight time of 17:00 in UFC featherweight fights is second longest in divisional history behind Jose Aldo (18:18).

Lobov has suffered 11 of his 14 career losses by decision. That includes all four of his UFC defeats.

Bec Rawlings’ (7-7 MMA, 2-4 UFC) three-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since March 2016.

Ashlee Evans-Smith (5-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) drops to the women’s flyweight division for the first time in her career. She’s competed as high as featherweight.

Zabit Magomedsharipov

Zabit Magomedsharipov (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) enters the event on a 10-fight winning streak. He hasn’t suffered a defeat since April 2013.

Magomedsharipov has earned 12 of his 14 career victories by stoppage. Both of his UFC wins are by submission.

Magomedsharipov landed 11 takedowns against Sheymon Moraes at UFC Fight Night 122, tied for the single-fight UFC/WEC featherweight record.

Magomedsharipov defeated Moraes with one of 12 anaconda-choke submission finishes in UFC history.

Kyle Bochniak (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has alternated wins and losses over his past five fights. He defeated Brandon Davis in his most recent bout at UFC 220.

For more on UFC 223, check out 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.