This article is part of our Fight Stat Wrap series.
Dan Henderson could not produce another highlight reel knockout against Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 204, despite inflicting a tremendous amount of damage from a few patented "H-bombs." However, the two fighters provided a fight that will stick in the mind of MMA fans for years to come. Now that the card is over, let's take a look back from a statistical perspective. The following is a by-the-numbers recap that highlights the stats and milestones that stood out on the main card with stats courtesy of FightMetric.com.
Michael Bisping sends Dan Henderson into the sunset with his volume striking
Another week and another main event where the striking stats do not tell the entire story. Just like the John Lineker vs. John Dodson fight, it is pointless to rely solely on the stats. Bisping employed his normal volume approach while Henderson looked for his power shots throughout the fight. All strikes are not created equal. No matter how you feel about the decision, the main event delivered a memorable bout and a dignified send off for Henderson.
In his last three fights to go the full 25 minutes, Bisping has outlanded his opponents 342 to 235 in terms of significant strikes. With Saturday's fight, Bisping raised his career significant strikes landed per minute rate to 4.44, which is second highest among ranked middleweights, behind only Robert Whittaker (4.95).
Nobody has ever landed as many significant strikes against Bisping in a 25 minute fight as Henderson (81). It is clear that Henderson thoroughly prepared for this fight as he landed 3.24 significant strikes per minute, which is well above his career rate of 2.44.
Gegard Mousasi shows off dominant striking against Vitor Belfort
From a statistical perspective, Mousasi is incredible He currently holds a 414 StrikeScore, which is a stat that measures striking efficiency. He lands 3.67 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent clip while, absorbing only 1.17 per minute and avoiding 69 percent of his opponent's strikes.
His defensive numbers are what really set him apart. The 1.17 significant strikes absorbed per minute is far and away the best number among ranked middleweights. Belfort managed to only land eight significant strikes against him. Since 2011, he has allowed opponents to land fewer than 20 significant strikes in 12 of 14 bouts. Outside of anomalous loss to Uriah Hall, Mousasi has not lost via knockout.
On the offensive side, Mousasi is accurate and lands with power. He is one of only four ranked middleweights to land at least 50 percent of his significant strikes, and he has scored knockouts in 21 of his 48 career fights.
Belfort has now been knocked out in three of his last four bouts. In those bouts, he has been outlanded 145 to 36. He is clearly not the fighter he once was. Of course, volume was never really Belfort's calling card. During his UFC career, he has never landed more than 20 significant strikes in a fight. He relied on his power to finish fights early. As that power has diminished, so has his efficacy as a fighter.
Jimi Manuwa is deadly accurate against Ovince Saint Preux
For the most part, it is either boom or bust for Manuwa. In seven UFC fights, he has landed four knockouts and been knocked out twice. Against Saint Preux, he appeared to be in some trouble early, but stormed back in the second round and finished the fight. He landed nine of his 32 significant strikes to the body, which appeared to have an impact on Saint Preux's cardio. For the fight, he landed 68 percent of his significant strikes, including a perfect 11-for-11 on leg kicks and 12 of his 14 clinch strikes.
On the other side, Saint Preux landed only 34 percent of his significant strike attempts. In his UFC wins, he has average 58 percent landed, while in UFC losses he has averaged 38 percent.
Stefan Struve flexes submission game against Daniel Omielanczuk
One of the biggest knocks against Struve is that despite his reach advantage over virtually everyone, he allows his opponents to close the distance and land strikes. It appears he may have addressed this issue. In his last four fights since losing to Alistair Overeem, Struve's opponents are landing 45 percent of the significant strikes at distance, that is not on the ground or in the clinch. That number is not outstanding. However, prior to these four fights, he was allowing opponents to land 52 percent at distance.
Against Omielanczuk, he showed off his above average ground game picked up his 17th submission victory in 36 professional bouts.
Mirsad Bektic does not let Russell Doane get on track
Bektic is now 4-0 in the UFC, and he is absorbing only 0.85 significant strikes per minute. In this day and age, you have to admire someone who can win fights in the Octagon without sustaining serious damage. In those four fights, he has landed 11 takedowns and passed guard an astounding 19 times.
