The UFC opens a busy February schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 218, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
A heavyweight headliner serves atop the card. The most decorated knockout artist in UFC history returns to competition as Derrick Lewis (26-10 MMA, 17-8 UFC) looks to buck his losing skid against the streaking Serghei Spivac (15-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 218.
Derrick Lewis
Lewis competes in his 26th UFC heavyweight bout, the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Andrei Arlovski (39) and Frank Mir (27).
Lewis’ 17 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Arlovski (23).
Lewis’ 13 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied with Mir for most in divisional history.
Lewis’ 13 knockout victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Lewis’ 13 knockout victories in UFC competition stemming from punches are the most in company history.
Lewis’ 13 knockout victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Lewis’ seven knockouts stemming from ground strikes in UFC competition are second most in company history behind Cain Velasquez (eight).
Lewis is the only fighter in history to have his first eight UFC bouts end in a knockout.
Lewis’ knockout of Alexander Volkov at UFC 229 despite a -82 significant strike differential marked the greatest statistical striking comeback in UFC history.
Lewis and Francis Ngannou combined for 31 total strikes landed at UFC 226, the second fewest in a three-round UFC fight that went the distance behind Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque (23) at UFC 26 in June 2000.
Lewis’ seven fight-night bonuses for UFC heavyweight bouts are tied for third most in divisional history behind Stipe Miocic (nine) and Stefan Struve (eight).
Serghei Spivac
Spivac has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished nine of those wins in Round 1.
Spivac complete 63.6 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate in divisional history.
Spivac is one of nine fighters to land 20 or more takedowns in UFC heavyweight competition.
Marcin Tybura vs. Blagoy Ivanov
Marcin Tybura’s (23-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) six decision victories in UFC heavyweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Arlovski (12).
Tybura defends 79.4 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC heavyweight competition, the best rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Blagoy Ivanov’s (19-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) average fight time of 16:40 in UFC heavyweight competition is the longest in divisional history.
Dooho Choi vs. Kyle Nelson
Dooho Choi (14-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 21, 2019. The 1,141-day layoff is the longest of his more than 13-year career.
Choi’s three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since July 2016.
Choi’s average fight time of 6:07 in UFC featherweight competition is the shortest among active fighters in the weight class.
Choi has earned all three of his UFC victories by first-round knockout in a total fight time of four minutes and 33 seconds.
Choi’s 18-second knockout of Juan Puig at UFC Fight Night 57 stands as the second-fastest debut in UFC featherweight history behind Makwan Amirkhani’s eight-second win at UFC on FOX 14.
Junyong Park vs. Denis Tiuliulin
Junyong Park (15-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) lands 54.2 percent of his takedown attempts in UFC middleweight competition, the second-best rate among active fights in the weight class behind Anthony Hernandez (64.7 percent).
Ji Yeon Kim vs. Mandy Bohm
Ji Yeon Kim’s (9-6-2 MMA, 3-6 UFC) four-fight losing skid is the longest of her career. She hasn’t earned a victory since October 2019.
Kim’s two fight-night bonuses for UFC women’s flyweight fights are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Molly McCann (three).
Kim lands 6.14 significant strikes per minute in UFC women’s flyweight bouts, the fourth-highest rate in divisional history behind Joanne Wood (7.33), Manon Fiorot (6.58) and Sabina Mazo (6.46).
Mandy Bohm (7-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered consecutive losses after starting her career 7-0.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 218.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
