UFC Fight Night 27 preview: 40 pre-fight facts for 'Condit vs. Kampmann 2'

The UFC returns to the Midwest on Wednesday as “UFC Fight Night 27: Condit vs. Kampmann 2? takes place from Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

It has been nearly three years since the organization visited Indiana, and it has put together a solid fight to entertain the MMA-thirsty fans in the region.

For the first time since Fabricio Werdum faced Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC on FUEL TV 10 earlier this year, a non-title rematch will headline an event as ranked welterweights Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann will mix it up for a second time more than four years after their initial meeting.

Kampmann edged out a controversial split decision in what was Condit’s UFC debut. But since then, the two men have traveled very different paths. Kampmann, “The Hitman,” has struggled to put himself over the edge as a title contender while “The Natural Born Killer” went on a win-streak that earned him the interim welterweight belt.

With both men having suffered losses to current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks in their most recent fights, they are eager to put another title run together, and it starts Wednesday.

While the UFC’s second fight card on FOX Sports 1 doesn’t hold the same name value as the debut event earlier this month, there are still several notable and relevant matchups set to take place.

So without further ado (and with a major assist from the good people at FightMetric), it’s time to sink your teeth into 40 pre-fight facts about UFC Fight Night 27.

MAIN EVENT – Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann

Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann are only the second pair of fighters (Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva) in UFC history to face each other in two non-title UFC main-event bouts.

Condit has earned a post-fight bonus in five of his seven UFC bouts for a total of $340,000.

Condit’s eight total finishes in UFC/WEC competition are tied for third most in welterweight history. He has defeated his opponent by knockout or submission in 26 of his 28 professional victories.

Condit has gone to a decision in his past three fights, the longest run of decisions in his 36-fight career.

Condit owns the second longest average fight time in UFC welterweight history at 14:40. Champion Georges St-Pierre is first at 15:10.

Condit’s 886 total strikes landed are the eighth most in the UFC’s 170-pound history.

Condit’s 68 landed leg kicks against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 are the single-fight UFC record.

Condit is just one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a flying knee.

Kampmann will compete in his fifth career UFC main event. He is 3-1 in headlining bouts to date.

Kampmann’s 74.5 percent takedown defense rate is the fourth best among active welterweights.

Kampmann’s 17 submission attempts at welterweight are the fourth most in the division’s history. His 21 overall submission attempts are the sixth most in UFC history. His 12 guillotine submission attempts are the fourth most ever, and his three guillotine submission wins are tied for second most in UFC history.

Kampmann’s 2.29 submission attempts per 15 minutes of fighting is the sixth most in 170-pound history.

CO-MAIN EVENT – Donald Cerrone vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Donald Cerrone and/or his opponent have received a post-fight bonus in six of his nine UFC bouts.

Cerrone’s 5.56 strikes landed per minute is the second best output rate in lightweight history behind TJ Grant (6.83). It is also fifth overall in UFC history. His 50.83 percent significant strike accuracy is the fifth best in 155-pound history.

Cerrone’s 49 landed leg kicks against Vagner Rocha at UFC 131 are a three-round UFC record.

Cerrone has spent just 16 seconds on his back throughout his UFC career, the least amount of total time in that position among lightweights with at least five UFC fights.

Rafael dos Anjos can tie T.J. Grant for the second longest active win streak in the lightweight division at five. Champion Benson Henderson leads the category with seven straight wins.

Dos Anjos’ 24 takedowns landed are tied for the ninth most all time in lightweight history. His takedown defense rate of 76.5 percent is also the ninth best in 155-pound history.

Dos Anjos’ 70.7 percent significant strike defense rate is the fourth best in lightweight history.

REMAINING MAIN CARD

Kelvin Gastelum, 21, is the youngest winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show franchise and will compete for the first time since defeating Uriah Hall to win the six-figure contract.

Brian Melancon‘s knockout of Seth Baczynski in his UFC debut at UFC 162 was just the seventh fight in history to end at 4:59 of Round 1.

Melancon will compete in his second UFC bout in a 53-day span.

Robert Whittaker vs. Court McGee is the eighth fight in UFC history between winners of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

McGee’s 5.95 strikes landed per minute is the third highest average of any fighter in UFC history.

McGee is just the second fighter in UFC history to land 100-plus significant strikes in back-to-back fights (the other is Nick Diaz). His 166 significant strikes landed against Josh Neer at UFC 157 are the fourth most ever landed by a single fighter in a UFC fight.

“The Ultimate Fighter 11? veteran Brad Tavares (5-1) has the highest UFC win percentage of any fighter from his season of the reality show.

Tavares owns the fifth longest average fight time in middleweight history at 13:13.

Tavares’ 82.6 percent takedown defense rate is the sixth best in middleweight history.

Tavares’ 116 significant strikes against Riki Fukuda at UFC on FUEL TV 8 are the fourth most ever landed by a middleweight in a single fight.

Robert McDaniel has defeated his opponent by knockout or submission in 20 of his 21 professional victories.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Erik Perez is the only fighter in bantamweight history to earn three straight first-round finishes.

Perez’s 17-second knockout of Ken Stone at UFC 150 is the fastest knockout in UFC/WEC bantamweight history.

Takeya Mizugaki‘s current two-fight win-streak is the best of his 11-fight ZUFFA career.

Mizugaki’s 463 significant strikes landed in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the third most in the division’s history. His 878 total strikes are also the third most in bantamweight history.

Mizugaki’s average fight time of 14:05 is the third highest in bantamweight history. His 2:39:20 of total fight time in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition is the 3rd most in the division’s history.

Mizugaki’s 18 takedowns in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the fifth most in the division’s history. His 81.8 percent takedown accuracy is the highest in UFC/WEC bantamweight history.

Justin Edwards‘ 45-second submission of Josh Neer at UFC on FX 5 is the third fastest submission in UFC welterweight history.

Darren Elkins can take sole possession of the record for most featherweight wins of any fight in UFC history at six.

Elkins’ 10 submission attempts are the most in featherweight history. His 2.80 submission attempt average per 15 minutes of fighting is second all-time.

Darren Elkins 493 total strikes landed are the second most in featherweight history.

For more on UFC Fight Night 27, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.