UFC 266 post-event facts: Nick Diaz stopped for first time in nearly 14 years

UFC 266 was a loaded lineup on paper and proved to be one of the best of the year in practice. The promotion put on a spectacular event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with a main card that aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

Both champions at the top of the card retained their belts. Alexander Volkanovski (23-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) defeated Brian Ortega (15-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to defend the featherweight title in the headliner, while Valentina Shevchenko (22-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) produced a fourth-round TKO in the co-main event against Lauren Murphy (15-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) to retain her women’s flyweight strap.

For more on the numbers behind the decorated champions, as well as the winners and losers from the rest of the card, check below for 65 post-event facts to come out of UFC 266.

Event stats

[vertical-gallery id=1136230] The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $319,000. Volkanovski, Ortega, [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag] earned $50,000 UFC 266 fight-night bonuses. Debuting fighters went 1-2 on the card. UFC 266 had an announced attendance of 19,029 for a live gate of $5,609,906. Betting favorites went 12-1 on the card. Betting favorites improved to 21-10 with one no contest in UFC headliners this year. Total fight time for the 13-bout card was 2:28:13.

Alexander Volkanovski def. Brian Ortega

[vertical-gallery id=1136600] Volkanovski became the fifth fighter in UFC history to start 10-0 with the promotion. Anderson Silva, Kamaru Usman, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Royce Gracie also accomplished the feat. Volkanovski's eight-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight is the longest active streak in the division. Volkanovski extended his winning streak to 20 consecutive fights. He hasn't suffered a defeat since May 2013. Volkanovski’s 20-fight winning streak in MMA competition is the longest among active UFC fighters. Volkanovski’s eight-fight UFC winning streak at featherweight is tied with Arnold Allen for the longest active streak in the division. Volkanovski has earned seven of his 10 UFC victories by decision. Ortega suffered the first decision loss of his career.

Valentina Shevchenko def. Lauren Murphy

[vertical-gallery id=1136551] Shevchenko’s six consecutive UFC women’s flyweight title defenses are most in divisional history. Shevchenko’s six consecutive UFC title defenses are most among current promotional champions. Shevchenko improved to 8-0 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in February 2018. Shevchenko’s eight-fight UFC winning streak at women’s flyweight is the longest active streak in the division. Shevchenko’s eight victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history. Shevchenko’s five stoppage victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are tied with Gillian Roberson for most in divisional history. Shevchenko’s four knockout victories in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history. Shevchenko has completed at least one takedown in 12 of her 13 UFC appearances. Shevchenko’s 28 takedowns landed in UFC women’s flyweight competition are most in divisional history. Murphy fell to 6-2 since she dropped to the UFC flyweight division in December 2017. Murphy suffered the first stoppage loss of her career with her knockout defeat.

Robbie Lawler def. Nick Diaz

[vertical-gallery id=1136524] [autotag]Robbie Lawler[/autotag] (29-15 MMA, 14-9 UFC) snapped his four-fight losing skid for his first victory since July 2017. Lawler improved to 5-0 in his career in rematches. Lawler improved to 10-6 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2013. Lawler has earned 21 of his 29 career victories by knockout. Lawler earned his first stoppage victory since July 11, 2015 – a span of 2,268 days (more than six years) and eight fights. [autotag]Nick Diaz[/autotag] (26-10 MMA, 7-7 UFC) extended his winless skid to four consecutive fights. He hasn't earned a victory since October 2011. Diaz suffered his first stoppage loss due to strikes since Nov. 10, 2007 – a span of 5,068 days (nearly 14 years) and 15 fights.

Curtis Blaydes def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

[vertical-gallery id=1136484] [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) became the 13th heavyweight in UFC history to reach 10 octagon victories. Blaydes' 62 takedowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history. [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has suffered two of his three career losses by decision.

Jessica Andrade def. Cynthia Calvillo

[vertical-gallery id=1136458] [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 13-7 UFC) improved to 2-1 since she moved up to the women's flyweight division in October 2020. Andrade's 13 UFC victories are the second most by any female in company history behind Amanda Nunes (14). Andrade has earned 16 of her 22 career victories by stoppage. Andrade's seven stoppage victories in UFC women's competition are second most in company history behind Nunes (10). [autotag]Cynthia Calvillo[/autotag] (9-3-1 MMA, 6-3-1 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in her career. She hasn't earned a victory since June 2020. Calvillo fell to 1-2 since she moved up to the women's flyweight division in June 2020. Calvillo suffered the first stoppage loss of her career with her knockout defeat.

Merab Dvalishvili def. Marlon Moraes

[vertical-gallery id=1136422] [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]'s (14-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) six-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied with Aljamain Sterling for the longest active streak in the division. Dvalishvili’s 50 takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight competition are most in divisional history. [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-9-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) has suffered three consecutive losses. He hasn't earned a victory since December 2019. Moraes has suffered eight of his nine career losses by stoppage.

Dan Hooker def. Nasrat Haqparast

[vertical-gallery id=1136365] [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] (21-10 MMA, 11-6 UFC) improved to 8-3 since he moved up to the UFC lightweight division in June 2017. [autotag]Nasrat Haqparast[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has suffered two of his three UFC losses by decision.

Chris Daukaus def. Shamil Abdurakhimov

[vertical-gallery id=1136387] [autotag]Chris Daukaus[/autotag]' (12-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at heavyweight is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the division behind Ciryl Gane (seven), Francis Ngannou (five) and Marcin Tybura (five). Daukaus has earned 11 of his 12 career victories by stoppage. Daukaus has earned all four of his UFC victories by knockout. [autotag]Shamil Abdurakhimov[/autotag] (20-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) has suffered all four of his UFC losses by knockout.

Taila Santos def. Roxanne Modafferi

[vertical-gallery id=1136334] [autotag]Taila Santos[/autotag] (18-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned all three of her UFC victories by decision. [autotag]Roxanne Modafferi[/autotag] (25-19 MMA, 4-6 UFC) suffered consecutive losses for the first time in her UFC career. Modafferi has suffered 15 of her 18 career losses by decision. That includes all seven of her UFC defeats. Modafferi’s total fight time of 2:33:32 in UFC women’s flyweight competition is the most in divisional history.

Jalin Turner def. Uros Medic

[vertical-gallery id=1136303] [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] (11-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage. [autotag]Uros Medic[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) had his seven-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of his career.

Matthew Semelsberger def. Martin Sano

[vertical-gallery id=1136260] [autotag]Matthew Semelsberger[/autotag] (9-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has earned seven of his nine career victories by stoppage. Semelsberger became the second fighter in UFC history to earn multiple knockouts of 20 seconds or less. Anthony Johnson also accomplished the feat. [autotag]Martin Sano[/autotag] (4-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.

Jonathan Pearce def. Omar Morales

[vertical-gallery id=1136236] [autotag]Jonathan Pearce[/autotag] (11-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned 10 of his 11 career victories by stoppage. That includes both of his UFC wins. [autotag]Omar Morales[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) fell to 1-2 since he dropped to the featherweight division in October 2020. Morales suffered the first stoppage loss of his career with his knockout defeat. UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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