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Knockdowns are one of the most electrifying aspects of fights in the UFC, especially when they end in knockouts. An interesting bit of analysis has revealed some facts about how the divisions in the UFC stack up against each other when it comes to knockdowns.
A study by MMAI Analytics has calculated knockdown rates for all the divisions in the UFC. Knockdown rate is the percentage of standing strikes (without including leg kicks) that cause a knockdown, and the 11 divisions in the UFC have been ranked based on this statistic.
The women's divisions see the lowest knockdown rates in the UFC in standard order - strawweight < flyweight < bantamweight. They are followed by the men's featherweight and flyweight divisions, which have the lowest knockdown rate among men of 0.82%. Interestingly, the UFC lightweight division has the third-lowest knockdown rate in the men's weight classes - 0.85%.
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Here are the five UFC divisions with the highest knockdown rates.
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#5 UFC men's bantamweight division - 0.93%
The outlier on this list, the UFC bantamweight division boasts of a 0.93% knockdown rate. This isn't surprising, given how many killers are in the division right now and how many have fought at 135 lbs over the years.
Former champions Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt, apart from a series of top contenders in Cory Sandhagen, Rob Font and Jose Aldo, undoubtedly have contributed to this stat. Most top bantamweights are primarily strikers in what is a scarily stacked division.
Yan brutalized Urijah Faber before finishing him in the third round, while Sandhagen has spectacular knockout victories over Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes. Dillashaw has knocked out Cody Garbrandt twice, and 'No Love' has in turn dominated former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
The UFC men's bantamweight division promises entertainment in the years to come, with several up-and-coming talents like Sean O'Malley part of the roster as well.
#4 UFC welterweight division - 1.09%
A weight class that has one of the most fearsome power punchers in the UFC as its champion, the welterweight division boasts of a 1.09% knockdown rate. Kamaru Usman, who has showcased his freak power against Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal in the recent past, is at the pinnacle of the division.
Other exceptionally talented strikers like Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson, Vicente Luque and Leon Edwards round off the top five. Even historically, the welterweight division has been host to a plethora of world-class fighters like Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre, Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler.
Welterweight promises to keep this record intact, with the likes of Khamzat Chimaev, Li Jingliang, Michel Pereira and Niko Price having many years left at the top level.
#3 UFC light heavyweight division - 1.4%
The UFC light heavyweight division has been host to some of the greatest fighters of all time. Jon Jones may not be part of the weight class anymore and the unassuming Jan Blachowicz might be the champion, but there are some serious killers at 205 lbs.
The light heavyweight division has a knockdown rate of 1.4%, showing just how dangerous and fickle it is. The current roster, which features exciting fighters like Jiri Prochazka, Anthony Smith, Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker, has managed to keep itself alive and kicking despite Jones' departure.
Several light heavyweight fights over the last year have ended in knockouts. While Blachowicz dispatched Luke Rockhold and Reyes in violent fashion, Prochazka took things one step further against Volkan Oezdemir and, unfortunately for him, Reyes again.
#2 UFC middleweight division - 1.41%
Surprisingly, the UFC middleweight division has a higher knockdown rate - albeit only slightly at 1.41% - than the light heavyweight division. This is perhaps down to the sheer quality of fighters who have competed at middleweight in the UFC, especially over the last few years.
Champion Israel Adesanya is probably the best striker in the sport right now, and he is closely followed by an army of talented fighters - Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, Jared Cannonier, Marvin Vettori and Darren Till, among others. Even slightly younger fighters like Sean Strickland, Edmen Shahbazyan and Kevin Holland are exceptionally talented on the feet.
A division that had Anderson Silva at its pinnacle for years on end is bound to be high up on a stat involving knockdowns.
#1 UFC heavyweight division - 1.56%
To no one's surprise, the UFC heavyweight division has the highest knockdown rate in the promotion - a whopping 1.56%. Host to the biggest punchers in MMA right now, the heavyweight division never fails to deliver exciting fights.
Some of the most fearsome fighters in MMA history, like champion Francis Ngannou and interim title challenger Derrick Lewis, have the touch of death in their fists. Others like Stipe Miocic and Ciryl Gane are technically extremely sound, while durable fighters like Tai Tuivasa and Blagoy Ivanov are working their way up the rankings.
Apart from a few wrestlers like Curtis Blaydes, almost everyone at heavyweight is capable of striking at a high level. That doesn't come as a surprise in a division that has had decorated champions like Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Cain Velasquez and Randy Couture.
