The UFC’s busy November stretch continues Saturday with UFC Fight Night 182, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
A compelling lightweight fight is atop the card. Paul Felder (17-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) steps in as a replacement for Islam Makhachev on just five days’ notice to meet former champion Rafael dos Anjos (30-13 MMA, 18-11 UFC), who returns to 155 pounds or the first time in about four years.
For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 25 pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 182.
Paul Felder vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Paul Felder
Felder steps in for Islam Makhachev on just five days’ notice.
Felder was originally set to work commentary on the card before stepping in to the main event.
Felder’s three UFC knockouts stemming from elbow strikes are tied with Curtis Blaydes for most in company history.
Felder is one of eight fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a spinning backfist. He accomplished the feat at UFC 182.
Rafael dos Anjos
Dos Anjos is the only Brazilian lightweight champion in UFC history.
Dos Anjos returns to the lightweight division for the first time since November 2016. He hasn’t earned a victory in the weight class since December 2015.
Dos Anjos enters a bout on a two-fight losing skid for the third time in his career. He’s never lost three straight.
Dos Anjos is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to June 2018.
Dos Anjos’ total fight time of 6:43:11 in UFC competition is second most in company history behind Frankie Edgar (7:40:51).
Dos Anjos’ 18 UFC wins are tied for ninth most in company history. Donald Cerrone holds the all-time record with 23.
Dos Anjos became just the second fighter in history to challenge for a UFC title and win a 50-45 decision on all three judges’ scorecards when he beat Anthony Pettis at UFC 185. Randy Couture also accomplished the feat against Tim Sylvia at UFC 68.
Dos Anjos’ 66-second victory over Cerrone at UFC on FOX 17 is the fastest stoppage in UFC lightweight title fight history.
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Khaos Williams
Abdul Razak Alhassan
Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned all his career victories by first-round knockout. He’s finished six of those wins in less than one minute.
Alhassan’s average fight time of 6:37 in UFC welterweight competition is shortest among active fighters in the weight class.
Julian Marquez vs. Saparbek Safarov
Julian Marquez (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since July 6, 2018. The 862-day layoff is the longest of his more than six-year career.
Kay Hansen vs. Cory McKenna
Cory Mckenna (5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), 21, is the youngest of the 24 fighters scheduled to compete at the event.
Brendan Allen vs. Sean Strickland
Brendan Allen
Brendan Allen’s (15-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Israel Adesanya (eight) and Kevin Holland (four).
Sean Strickland (21-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 14-day stretch. He won at UFC on ESPN+ 39 on Oct. 31.
Ashley Yoder vs. Miranda Granger
Ashley Yoder (7-6 MMA, 2-5 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.
Jose Quinonez vs. Louis Smolka
Louis Smolka (16-7 MMA, 7-7 UFC) is 2-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in November 2018.
Smolka is 2-2 since he moved up to the UFC bantamweight division in November 2018.
Randa Markos vs. Kanako Murata
Randa Markos (10-9-1 MMA, 6-8-1 UFC) competes in her 16th UFC strawweight bout, tied with Angela Hill for the most appearances in divisional history.
Markos’ four split-decision results in UFC strawweight competition are most in divisional history.
Markos and Marina Rodriguez fought to the first draw in UFC strawweight history at UFC Fight Night 137 in September 2018.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.