UFC ยท By the Numbers
The answers, from every fight since 2020
MMA is full of confident claims: reach wins fights, southpaws have an edge, the small cage means brawls. We run a database of 3,144 UFC fights, so instead of guessing, we counted. Some of these will surprise you.
11:03
average length
How long does the average UFC fight last?
The exact average, by division, plus the round where fights actually end.
33%
end in a KO
What percentage of UFC fights end in a knockout?
Finish rates by division, from strawweight's chess matches to light heavyweight's coin flips.
What percentage of UFC fights go the distance?
How often fights actually reach the judges, and the divisions where they almost never do.
51%
longer reach wins
Does reach matter in the UFC?
One of MMA's favorite stats is mostly a myth. Mostly.
53%
southpaw vs orthodox
Do southpaws win more in the UFC?
The lefty advantage, measured across every southpaw vs orthodox fight since 2020.
59%
younger fighter wins
Does age matter in the UFC?
The strongest effect in our entire database. It is not close.
43%
win after a year off
Is ring rust real in the UFC?
Short layoffs do nothing. Long ones show up loudly in the win column.
+0.7
finish rate, small cage
Does the smaller UFC APEX cage mean more finishes?
Fight-week talk says brawls. The data says a nudge.
47%
title fights to decision
Do UFC title fights go the distance more often?
The five-round myth, tested against every title fight since 2020.
Want the next card's picks?
Every AI model's pick for every fight on the next card, with the consensus up front and every call graded in public.
Open the AI Pick Board โ๐ Like this? Get the monthly AI report plus the daily email, free.