The UFC returned to Missouri after six years Saturday at UFC on ESPN 44, and the card delivered with half the fights ending by stoppage.
One of the bouts to go the distance was the main event, where former champion Max Holloway (24-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) once again displayed his greatness in ending the winning streak of Arnold Allen (19-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) with a unanimous decision. In the process, “Blessed” made more history to add to his one-of-a-kind octagon resume.
For more on the numbers to come out of the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 44.
Event stats
UFC on ESPN 44 marked the first event in company history where multiple fights ended by knockout stemming from knee strikes.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payout for the event totaled $254,500.
Debuting fighters went 1-1 at the event.
Edson Barboza, Brandon Royval, Gillian Robertson, Bill Algeo and T.J. Brown earned $50,000 UFC on ESPN 44 fight-night bonuses.
UFC on ESPN 44 had an announced attendance of 16,234 for a live gate of $2,180,096.
Betting favorites went 7-7 on the card.
Betting favorites improved to 7-5 in UFC headliners this year.
Total fight time for the 14-bout card was 2:39:47.
Max Holloway vs. Arnold Allen
Holloway’s total fight time of 6 hours and 37 minutes in UFC featherweight competition is most in divisional history.
Holloway’s 19 victories in UFC featherweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Holloway became the 12th fighter in UFC history to earn 20 victories with the promotion.
Holloway has landed 100 or more significant strikes in 15 separate UFC fights, the most in company history. No other fighter has more than eight such performances.
Holloway has landed 3,122 significant strikes in UFC competition, the most in company history.
Holloway has landed 3,366 total strikes in UFC competition are most in company history.
Holloway is the only fighter in UFC history to complete 27 octagon appearances without suffering a knockdown.
Holloway has absorbed 2,086 significant strikes in UFC competition, the most in company history.
Allen has suffered both of his career losses by decision.
Edson Barboza def. Billy Quarantillo
Edson Barboza (23-11 MMA, 17-11 UFC) improved to 3-3 since he dropped to the featherweight division in May 2020.
Barboza has earned all nine of his UFC stoppage victories by knockout.
Barboza earned his sixth knockout in UFC competition stemming from a knee or kick, the second-most in company history behind Donald Cerrone (seven).
Barboza’s 15 knockdowns landed in UFC competition are fourth-most in company history behind Cerrone (20), Anderson Silva (18), and Jeremy Stephens (18).
Billy Quarantillo (17-5 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
Azamat Murzakanov def. Dustin Jacoby
Azamat Murzakanov’s (13-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak at light heavyweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Jamahal Hill (four).
Dustin Jacoby (18-7-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) fell to 6-2-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in October 2020.
Ion Cutelaba def. Tanner Boser
Ion Cutelaba (17-8-1 MMA, 6-7-1 UFC) has earned 15 of his 17 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished 13 of those wins by knockout.
Tanner Boser (20-10-1 MMA, 4-5 UFC) was unsuccessful in his light heavyweight debut
Boser has suffered both of his career stoppage losses by knockout.
Pedro Munhoz def. Chris Gutierrez
Pedro Munhoz (20-7 MMA, 10-7 UFC)
Chris Gutierrez (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-1 UFC) fell to 5-2-1 in UFC bantamweight competition.
Gutierrez has suffered four of his five career losses by decision.
Rafa Garcia def. Clay Guida
Rafa Garcia (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has earned three of his four UFC victories by decision.
Clay Guida (38-23 MMA, 18-17 UFC) fell to 6-6 since he returned to the UFC lightweight division in June 2017.
Guida fell to 4-6 in his past 10 fights dating back to June 2018..
Guida’s 17 losses in UFC competition are second-most in company history behind Stephens (18).
Bill Algeo vs. T.J. Brown
T.J. Brown (18-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has suffered seven of his 10 career losses by stoppage.
Brandon Royval def. Matheus Nicolau
Brandon Royval (15-6 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage.
Royval has earned four of his five UFC victories by stoppage.
Matheus Nicolau (19-3-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) fell to 4-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in March 2021.
Nicolau fell to 6-2 since he dropped to the UFC flyweight division in July 2016.
Nicolau has suffered all three of his career losses by knockout.
Zak Cummings def. Ed Herman
Zak Cummings (25-7 MMA, 10-4 UFC) retired from MMA following his victory.
Cummings was successful in his light heavyweight debut.
Cummings became the 17th fighter in UFC history to earn victories in three weight classes (light heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight).
Ed Herman (26-16 MMA, 13-12 UFC) retired from MMA after his loss.
Herman fell to 4-5 since he returned to the light heavyweight division in January 2016.
Herman has suffered 10 of his 16 career losses by stoppage.
Gillian Robertson def. Piera Rodriguez
Gillian Robertson (12-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) was successful in her UFC strawweight debut.
Robertson has earned 10 of her 12 career victories by stoppage.
Robertson’s seven submission victories in UFC competition are most by any female in company history.
Piera Rodriguez (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) had her nine-fight winning streak snapped for the first defeat of her career.
Daniel Zellhuber def. Lando Vannata
Lando Vannata (12-7-2 MMA, 4-7-2 UFC) was unsuccessful in his return to the lightweight division.
Denise Gomes def. Bruna Brasil
Denise Gomes (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned five of her seven career victories by stoppage.
Bruna Brasil (8-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of her career losses by knockout.
Gaston Bolanos def. Aaron Phillips
Gaston Bolanos (7-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned the first decision victory of his career.
Aaron Phillips (12-5 MMA, 0-4 UFC) fell to 0-2 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in July 2020.
Phillips’ skid in UFC competition was extended to four fights. He went 0-2 in his previous tenure in 2014.
Phillips has suffered three of his four career losses by decision.
Joselyne Edwards def. Lucie Pudilova
Joselyne Edwards (13-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) has earned all four of her UFC victories by decision.
Lucie Pudilova (14-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC) fell to 1-1 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in August 2022.
Pudilova has suffered seven of her eight career losses by decision.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.
