UFC in 2016: A ridiculously robust look at the stats, streaks, skids and record-setters

The UFC had yet another historic year in 2016. From the highs of mega-events that caught the world’s attention to the lows of an overwhelming number of key fight cancellations, a lot unfolded over the past 12 months and 41 events.

Now that the year has come to a close, and with a major assist from FightMetric research analyst and live statistics producers Michael Carroll, here are some of 2016’s most significant milestones from the events, the fights and individual performances.

Events

The UFC held 41 events in 31 different cities across 10 countries and four continents.

Within those events, there were 493 fights across 11 different weight classes (including catchweight bouts). Those 493 fights combined for a total cage time of 91:31:14.

The longest event of the year was “UFC Fight Night 89: MacDonald vs. Thompson” in Ottawa. The 2:58:00 of fight time was the most for a single event in UFC history.

The shortest event of the year was “UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem” in Cleveland at 1:28:10.

At those events, the UFC drew an announced total attendance of 491,717 for a live gate total of $88,806,982.50 (Note: live gate was not announced for three events).

The highest reported attended event of the year was “UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic” in Brazil (45,207) while the lowest attended event was “The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale” in Las Vegas (2,044).

“UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic” drew an announced attendance of 45,207, the third highest in company history behind UFC 193 (56,214) and UFC 129 (55,724).

“UFC 207: Nunes vs. Rousey” in Las Vegas drew an announced attendance of 18,533, the most of the company’s 108 total events in the city.

The highest reported income gate of the year was “UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” in New York City ($17.7 million) while the lowest reported income gate of the year went to “The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale” in Las Vegas ($188,602).

“UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor” sold a live gate of $17.7 million, the largest in UFC history.

In 2016, 164 fight-night bonuses were given out for a sum of $8.2 million.

In 2016, athletes were paid $7.138 million in Athlete Outfitting Policy money.

The most knockouts at a single event went to “UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” with eight.

“UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2” featured seven stoppages outside of the first round, which tied UFC Fight Night 80, UFC 185 and UFC Fight Night 42 for the single-event record.

“UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” set a new single-event record for most knockdowns with a total of 15.

“UFC Fight Night 89: MacDonald vs. Thompson” featured six third-round stoppages, the most on any card in company history.

“UFC Fight Night 89: MacDonald vs. Thompson” featured a total of 1,931 total strikes landed, the most at a single event in company history.

The most submissions at a single event went to “UFC Fight Night 90: Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez” with six.

“UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2” and “UFC Fight Night 90: Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez” each featured a string of five consecutive submissions, the longest stretch on any event in company history.

The most fights to go to a decision at a 2016 event went to “UFC Fight Night 101: Whittaker vs. Brunson” and “UFC Fight Night 84: Silva vs. Bisping” with 10 each, which tied with UFC Fight Night 36 and UFC 169 for most ever on a single UFC card.

Betting favorites went 299-171. Twenty-three fights ended in a draw, no contest or had even odds.

“UFC Fight Night 102: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov” had the most favorites come through with victories, where 12 of 12 had their hand raised. That tied UFC 171 and UFC 170 for the most wins by betting favorites on a single card in UFC history. On the flip side, nine underdogs won at “UFC Fight Night 91: McDonald vs. Lineker.”

A total of 22 fighters officially missed weight for their respective contests. The 19 fighters in that group to compete went 9-10 in their respective bouts.

A total of 116 fighters made their UFC debut in 2016. Those fighters went 44-68-3 with one no-contest. Debuting fighters who faced an opponent with at least one bout of UFC experience went 32-56-3 with one no-contest.

A variety of circumstances caused a total of 35 UFC main event or co-main event fights to be adjusted, postponed or canceled entirely.

UFC championship belts changed hands 10 times over the course of the year.

Stipe Miocic

Heavyweight

Number of fights: 40
Knockouts: 20
Submissions: Seven
Decisions: 12
Other: One
Champion at beginning of year: Fabricio Werdum
Champion at end of year: Stipe Miocic
Most fights in divisional history: Frank Mir (27)
Longest active winning streak in division: Derrick Lewis (five)
Most wins in divisional history: Mir (16)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Mir (13)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Cain Velasquez (10)
Most submissions in divisional history: Mir (eight)
Most fight-night bonuses in divisional history: Miocic (seven)

Daniel Cormier

Light heavyweight

Number of fights: 39
Knockouts: 14
Submissions: Nine
Decisions: 15
Other: One
Champion at beginning of year: Daniel Cormier
Champion at end of year: Cormier
Most fights in divisional history: Ryan Bader (20)
Longest active winning streak in division: Jon Jones (13)
Most wins in divisional history: Jones (16)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Jones and Chuck Liddell (nine)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Liddell (nine)
Most submissions in divisional history: Jones (five)
Most fight-night bonuses in divisional history: Jones and Mauricio Rua (seven)

Michael Bisping

Middleweight

Number of fights: 57
Knockouts: 28
Submissions: Seven
Decisions: 22
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Luke Rockhold
Champion at end of year: Michael Bisping
Most fights in divisional history: Bisping and Chris Leben (22)
Longest active winning streak in division: Yoel Romero (eight)
Most wins in divisional history: Bisping (16)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Anderson Silva (11)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Silva (eight)
Most submissions in divisional history: Thales Leites, Rosimar Palhares and Demian Maia (five)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Silva (11)

Tyron Woodley

Welterweight

Number of fights: 95
Knockouts: 31
Submissions: 20
Decisions: 43
Other: One
Champion at beginning of year: Robbie Lawler
Champion at end of year: Tyron Woodley
Most fights in divisional history: Josh Koscheck (24)
Longest active winning streak in division: Demian Maia (six)
Most wins in divisional history: Georges St-Pierre (19)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Matt Hughes (12)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Brown (nine)
Most submissions in divisional history: Chris Lytle (six)
Most fight-night bonuses in divisional history: Lytle (10)

Conor McGregor

Lightweight

Number of fights: 88
Knockouts: 26
Submissions: 15
Decisions: 47
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Rafael dos Anjos
Champion at end of year: Conor McGregor
Most fights in divisional history: Gleison Tibau and Jim Miller (25)
Longest active winning streak in division: Tony Ferguson (nine)
Most wins in divisional history: Tibau and Jim Miller (16)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Joe Lauzon (12)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Melvin Guillard (seven)
Most submissions in divisional history: Lauzon and Nate Diaz (seven)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Lauzon (15)

Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar

Featherweight

Number of fights: 50
Knockouts: Seven
Submissions: Nine
Decisions: 34
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Conor McGregor
Champion at end of year: Jose Aldo
Most fights in divisional history: Max Holloway (15)
Longest active winning streak in division: Holloway (nine)
Most wins in divisional history: Holloway (12)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Holloway (seven)
Most knockouts in divisional history: McGregor (six)
Most submissions in divisional history: Charles Oliveira (six)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: McGregor and Oliveira (six)

Cody Garbrandt

Bantamweight

Number of fights: 45
Knockouts: 12
Submissions: 10
Decisions: 23
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: T.J. Dillashaw
Champion at end of year: Cody Garbrandt
Most fights in divisional history: Urijah Faber (15)
Longest active winning streak in division: Garbrandt (five)
Most wins in divisional history: Dillashaw and Faber (10)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Dillashaw and Faber (six)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Dillashaw (five)
Most submissions in divisional history: Faber (six)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Dillashaw (six)

Amanda Nunes

Women’s bantamweight

Number of fights: 22
Knockouts: Five
Submissions: Three
Decisions: 14
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Holly Holm
Champion at end of year: Amanda Nunes
Most fights in divisional history: Miesha Tate (nine)
Longest active winning streak in division: Nunes (five)
Most wins in divisional history: Nunes (seven)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Nunes and Ronda Rousey (six)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Nunes (four)
Most submissions in divisional history: Rousey (three)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Rousey (seven)

Demetrious Johnson

Flyweight

Number of fights: 23
Knockouts: Two
Submissions: Three
Decisions: 18
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Demetrious Johnson
Champion at end of year: Johnson
Most fights in divisional history: Johnson and Joseph Benavidez (12)
Longest active winning streak in division: Johnson (11)
Most wins in divisional history: Johnson (11)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Johnson (five)
Most knockouts in divisional history: John Lineker (four)
Most submissions in divisional history: Johnson and John Moraga (three)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Johnson (six)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Women’s strawweight

Number of fights: 27
Knockouts: Three
Submissions: Five
Decisions: 19
Other: Zero
Champion at beginning of year: Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Champion at end of year: Jedrzejczyk
Most fights in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk (seven)
Longest active winning streak in division: Jedrzejczyk (seven)
Most wins in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk (seven)
Most stoppages in divisional history: Paige VanZant (three)
Most knockouts in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk and VanZant (two)
Most submissions in divisional history: Rose Namajunas, Michelle Waterson and Felice Herrig (two)
Most fight-bight bonuses in divisional history: Jedrzejczyk (three)

Individual feats

Carlos Condit became the third welterweight in UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in three separate bouts when he lost to Robbie Lawler at UFC 195. St-Pierre and Lytle have also accomplished the feat.

Stipe Miocic became the fifth fighter in UFC history to earn three or more knockouts in less than one minute when he defeated Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195.

T.J. Dillashaw became the first fighter in UFC history to land 100 or more significant strikes in five consecutive fights when he lost to Dominick Cruz at UFC Fight Night 81.

Noad Lahat became the first fighter in UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history to suffer two knockout losses stemming from a flying-knee strike when he lost to Diego Rivas at UFC Fight Night 82.

Chris Camozzi’s 26-second knockout of Joe Riggs at UFC Fight Night 83 marked the second fastest finish in UFC history to stem from knee strikes behind Mark Kerr’s 17-second victory at UFC 15.

Nate Diaz set the modern-era UFC record for most submission victories (nine) when he defeated McGregor at UFC 196. Royce Gracie holds the all-time submission record at 10.

Neil Magny’s 100 significant ground strikes landed against Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85 set a new single-fight UFC record.

Alan Jouban became the second fighter in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from standing elbow strikes when he defeated Brendan O’Reilly at UFC Fight Night 85. Travis Browne has also accomplished the feat.

Junior Dos Santos’ 157 significant strikes landed against Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 86 set a new single-fight UFC heavyweight record.

Dos Santos’ 92 significant body strikes landed at UFC Fight Night 86 set a new single-fight UFC record.

Derrick Lewis became the first fighter in UFC history to have his first eight appearances end in a knockout when he fought Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC Fight Night 86.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson, 45, became the oldest fighter in UFC history to earn a knockout victory when he beat Hector Lombard at UFC 199. He owned the previous record set at 44.

Henderson suffered his 16th knockdown in UFC/PRIDE/Strikeforce/WEC competition against Lombard at UFC 199, the most in the combined history of the four organizations.

Brian Ortega became the first fighter in UFC history to earn three consecutive third-round stoppage victories when he beat Clay Guida at UFC 199.

Donald Cerrone earned his 17th UFC/WEC fight-night bonus at UFC Fight Night 89, the most in the combined history of the two organization.

Frankie Edgar became the first fighter in UFC history to log more than six of hours of fight time when he lost to Jose Aldo at UFC 200.

Tony Ferguson earned his third D’Arce-choke submission in UFC competition against Lando Vannata at UFC Fight Night 91, the most in company history.

Felice 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.

Luis Henrique, 22, became the youngest fighter to earn a UFC heavyweight victory since Stefan Struve, 21, in June 2009, when he defeated Dmitrii Smolkiakov at UFC on FOX 20.

Anthony Hamilton’s 14-second knockout of Damian Grabowski at UFC 201 marked the second fastest knockout in UFC heavyweight history behind Todd Duffee’s seven-second win at UFC 102.

Wilson Reis’ submission of Hector Sandoval at 1:49 of Round 1 at UFC 201 marked the fastest submission finish in UFC flyweight history.

Michael Graves vs. Bojan Velickovic at UFC 201 marked the fourth draw of 2016, a new single-year UFC record. A total of seven fights in 2016 ended in a draw.

Anthony Johnson became the first fighter in UFC history to earn five knockout victories in less than one minute each when he stopped Glover Teixeira in 13 seconds at UFC 202.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz combined for 330 significant strikes landed at UFC 202, the second highest single-fight total in UFC history behind Diaz’s UFC 141 bout with Cerrone (334).

Chas Skelly’s 19-second submission of Maximo Blanco at UFC Fight Night 94 marked the fastest submission finish in UFC/WEC featherweight history.

John Lineker missed weight for the fifth time in his UFC career at UFC Fight Night 96, the most in company history.

Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping’s earned his 20th UFC victory at UFC 204, passing St-Pierre’s longstanding record of 19.

Bisping became the second fighter in UFC history to record 100 or more significant strikes in five separate bouts at UFC 204. Dillashaw also accomplished the feat.

Douglas Silva de Andrade became the fourth fighter in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a spinning backfist when he defeated Henry Briones at UFC Fight Night 98.

Diego Sanchez fought to a decision for the 18th time in UFC competition at UFC Fight Night 98, the most in company history.

Jeremy Stephens suffered his 12th loss in UFC competition at UFC 205, the most in company history.

Yoel Romero became the second fighter in UFC history to earn two knockout victories stemming from a flying knee when he defeated Chris Weidman at UFC 205. D. Sanchez also accomplished the feat.

Conor McGregor

McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to earn eight consecutive fight-night bonuses at UFC 205. No other fighter has won bonuses in more than six-straight fights.

McGregor became the third fighter in UFC history to earn three knockdowns in a single fight on two separate occasions when he defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. Anderson Silva and John Lineker also accomplished the feat.

Donald Cerrone earned his 17th stoppage victory in UFC/WEC competition at UFC 206, the most in the combined history of the two organizations.

Cerrone earned his sixth knockout victory stemming from a head kick in UFC competition against at UFC 206, the most in company history.

Max Holloway, 25, became the youngest fighter in UFC history to earn a 10-fight winning streak when he defeated Anthony Pettis at UFC 206.

Brandon Thatch suffered his fourth consecutive submission loss in UFC competition at UFC 207, tied with John Albert for the longest streak in company history.

Championship feats

Dominick Cruz became the second fighter in UFC history to win a belt by split decision when he defeated Dillashaw at UFC Fight Night 81. Robbie Lawler also accomplished the feat against Johny Hendricks at UFC 181.

Cruz became the sixth fighter in UFC history to have two or more title reigns in one weight class when he won at UFC Fight Night 81. Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Cain Velasquez, Matt Hughes and St-Pierre also accomplished the feat.

Bisping became the fifth fighter in UFC history to win “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series and a UFC title when he beat Rockhold at UFC 199. Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Matt Serra and Carla Esparza also accomplished the feat.

Bisping won the UFC championship in his 26th UFC appearance at UFC 199, the latest into a career of any titleholder company history.

Bisping became the first British champion in UFC history when he beat Rockhold at UFC 199.

Eddie Alvarez became the first fighter in MMA history to win titles under the UFC and Bellator banners when he beat Rafael dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night 90.

Bisping became the first fighter in UFC history to win “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, a UFC championship and make a successful title defense when he defeated Henderson at UFC 204.

Tyron Woodley vs. Stephen Thompson at UFC 205 marked the third championship fight in UFC history to end in a draw. B.J. Penn vs. Caol Uno at UFC 41 and Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125 also ended in a draw.

McGregor became the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history when he defeated Alvarez at UFC 205.

McGregor became the third fighter in UFC history to win titles in two weight classes at UFC 205. Couture and Penn also accomplished the feat.

D. Johnson became the third champion in UFC to reach nine consecutive title defenses. St-Pierre and Silva also accomplished the feat.

Garbrandt became the ninth undefeated UFC champion when he defeated Cruz at UFC 207.

For more on the UFC’s schedule, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.