The Mac
08-28-2010, 07:20 PM
BOSTON -- Randy Couture is a massive favorite to win his third straight fight Saturday night at UFC 118, but given Couture's status and renown in the MMA world, you might be surprised to learn that if Couture does indeed win, it would be his first streak of three wins or more since 2001.
During the course of fight-week, we're privy to a host of interesting stats that don't otherwise that make it into the event discussion, so we're compiling a few of the more interesting nuggets here, including a few gems about James Toney, BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar and more.
• UFC 118 is only the fourth time in Randy Couture's UFC history he hasn't fought in the main event. The last time was back in 2005, when Couture defeated Mike Von Arsdale at UFC 54. The other times were at UFC 15 and UFC 13.
• When James Toney debuts, he'll be the shortest active heavyweight in the UFC at 5-foot-10. Pat Barry (5-11) is the only other heavyweight listed below 6 feet tall.
• James Toney has not fought someone older than him since he faced Evander Holyfied in Oct. 2003. At the time, Toney was 35 and Holyfield was 38.
• Toney is one of the oldest debuting fighters in UFC history, but despite turning 42, he isn't even the oldest man to make his UFC debut this year. Renzo Gracie was 43 when he fought in the octagon for the first time at UFC 112 in April. The oldest ever is Ron Van Clief, who was 51 when he competed at UFC 4.
• Toney is the only boxer in history to land more than 400 punches in a fight on five separate occasions. The last time he accomplished the feat was in a July 1994 win over Tony Thornton.
• Toney has fought 81 pro boxing fights in divisions from middleweight to heavyweight and has never been knocked out.
• In the first Penn-Edgar fight, Edgar became the first lightweight to take Penn down in his last six fights. His previous five lightweight foes had been 0-for-25 in takedown tries before Edgar took him down twice.
• When Edgar went the distance with Penn at UFC 112, it was the first time a lightweight opponent lasted the distance with Penn in over seven years.
• Undercard fighter Amilcar Alves has the longest win streak of any fighter on the event. He's won eight straight bouts since a May 2007 loss. Saturday night will mark his UFC debut.
• Gray Maynard has the longest win streak of any fighter on the main card. He's won seven straight bouts since a June 2007 no contest against Rob Emerson.
• Despite losing three straight fights, Dan Miller is as much as a 3-to-1 favorite against John Salter.
• Marcus Davis is the only Massachusetts-based fighter with underdog status on the card. Nate Diaz is considered a 2-to-1 favorite in the welterweight bout.
• UFC 118 is the first UFC event held in New England since UFC 55 emanated from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
• The 20 fighters on UFC 118 have compiled 27 post-fight bonus awards. Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon have the most, with five each.
• Gabe Ruediger is the first fighter who has been kicked out of The Ultimate Fighter by UFC president Dana White and later been invited back into the organization.
• When Demian Maia and Mario Miranda fight, it will be just the 14th time in UFC history that Brazilians have fought each other – out of 158 total events. Half of those have come in the last eight months.
During the course of fight-week, we're privy to a host of interesting stats that don't otherwise that make it into the event discussion, so we're compiling a few of the more interesting nuggets here, including a few gems about James Toney, BJ Penn, Frankie Edgar and more.
• UFC 118 is only the fourth time in Randy Couture's UFC history he hasn't fought in the main event. The last time was back in 2005, when Couture defeated Mike Von Arsdale at UFC 54. The other times were at UFC 15 and UFC 13.
• When James Toney debuts, he'll be the shortest active heavyweight in the UFC at 5-foot-10. Pat Barry (5-11) is the only other heavyweight listed below 6 feet tall.
• James Toney has not fought someone older than him since he faced Evander Holyfied in Oct. 2003. At the time, Toney was 35 and Holyfield was 38.
• Toney is one of the oldest debuting fighters in UFC history, but despite turning 42, he isn't even the oldest man to make his UFC debut this year. Renzo Gracie was 43 when he fought in the octagon for the first time at UFC 112 in April. The oldest ever is Ron Van Clief, who was 51 when he competed at UFC 4.
• Toney is the only boxer in history to land more than 400 punches in a fight on five separate occasions. The last time he accomplished the feat was in a July 1994 win over Tony Thornton.
• Toney has fought 81 pro boxing fights in divisions from middleweight to heavyweight and has never been knocked out.
• In the first Penn-Edgar fight, Edgar became the first lightweight to take Penn down in his last six fights. His previous five lightweight foes had been 0-for-25 in takedown tries before Edgar took him down twice.
• When Edgar went the distance with Penn at UFC 112, it was the first time a lightweight opponent lasted the distance with Penn in over seven years.
• Undercard fighter Amilcar Alves has the longest win streak of any fighter on the event. He's won eight straight bouts since a May 2007 loss. Saturday night will mark his UFC debut.
• Gray Maynard has the longest win streak of any fighter on the main card. He's won seven straight bouts since a June 2007 no contest against Rob Emerson.
• Despite losing three straight fights, Dan Miller is as much as a 3-to-1 favorite against John Salter.
• Marcus Davis is the only Massachusetts-based fighter with underdog status on the card. Nate Diaz is considered a 2-to-1 favorite in the welterweight bout.
• UFC 118 is the first UFC event held in New England since UFC 55 emanated from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
• The 20 fighters on UFC 118 have compiled 27 post-fight bonus awards. Nate Diaz and Joe Lauzon have the most, with five each.
• Gabe Ruediger is the first fighter who has been kicked out of The Ultimate Fighter by UFC president Dana White and later been invited back into the organization.
• When Demian Maia and Mario Miranda fight, it will be just the 14th time in UFC history that Brazilians have fought each other – out of 158 total events. Half of those have come in the last eight months.