Any time a fighter as accomplished as Vitor Belfort steps in the Octagon, there is always something factual of note to bring up.
In the case of "The Phenom," his name in the sport for more than a decade has been built around being one of the most dangerous first-round fighters in not just the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but in all of mixed martial arts (MMA).
The Brazilian proved once again exactly why he has that stigma attached to him on Saturday night (May 18, 2013) with an absolutely devastating first-round head kick knockout of former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold in the UFC on FX 8 main event.
The incredible win improved Belfort to 5-1 since dropping to 185-pounds in 2008 and further extended his record for most first-round finishes in UFC history, which only adds to the Hall-of-Fame worthy resume The Brazilian has put together.
Belfort's ability to finish opponents in the first round time after time is unlike anyone else in the sport -- that's a fact.
But there were also plenty of other facts to come out of UFC on FX 8: "Belfort vs. Rockhold," which took place at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil on May 18, 2013.
Check out all 25 of them below:
- Belfort is the first fighter in history to win two-straight UFC fights by head kick knockout. He is also just the fifth fighter (Anthony Pettis, Anthony Johnson, Paul Taylor, Yves Edwards) in UFC history to earn two knockouts by landing a single kick.
- Rockhold had his nine-fight win-streak snapped and was defeated for the first time since Nov. 2007 -- a span of 2,020 days and 10 fights. Both of Rockhold's career defeats are by first-round (technical) knockout.
- The 28-27 scorecard turned in by judge Doug Crosby in the Nik Lentz vs. Hacran Dias fight was the first in a UFC fight since Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa at UFC 143 in Feb. 2012.
- Belfort vs. Rockhold was the shortest UFC main event since Cung Le defeated Rich Franklin by first-round knockout at UFC on FUEL TV 6 in Nov. 2012.
- Ronaldo Souza has won eight of his past nine fights with the lone defeat coming to Rockhold by decision under the Strikeforce banner. "Jacare" has earned 14 of his 18 professional victories by submission.
- Fighters making their UFC debut went 1-4 on the card with Souza being the lone victor.
- Belfort, Souza, Lucas Martins and Jeremy Larsen earned $50,000 post-fight bonuses.
- John Cholish retired from MMA competition following his second-round submission loss to Gleison Tibau. The 29-year-old was defeated by submission for the first time since Sept. 2007 -- a span of over 5.5 years and 10 fights.
- Belfort improved to 4-0 in the UFC when fighting in Brazil.
- Yuri Alcantara has earned 24 of his 28 professional victories by (technical) knockout or submission.
- Rafael dos Anjos tied T.J. Grant for the second longest active UFC win-streak in the lightweight division at four. Champion Benson Henderson leads the division with seven-straight wins.
- Tibau scored four takedowns against Cholish, pushing the number of total completed takedown in his UFC career to 68, which is second to UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (84 completed takedowns).
- UFC on FX 8 reportedly drew an attendance of 7,642. A live gate for the event was not announced.
- In the seven events the UFC has held in Brazil, Brazilian fighters are 36-10 when facing opponents from other countries. Brazilian fighters went 9-1 against opponents from other countries at UFC on FX 8.
- After starting his UFC career with an 0-1-1 record, Rafael Natal is 4-1 in his past five fights.
- Evan Dunham out scored dos Anjos 90 to 86 in total strikes landed in his unanimous decision loss to the Brazilian.
- Lentz improved to 3-0 since dropping to the UFC featherweight division.
- Belfort extended his UFC record for most first-round finishes in history to 11.
- Francisco Trinaldo has finished his opponent by (technical) knockout or submission in all three of his UFC victories. Trinaldo has earned 10 of his 13 professional victories by (technical) knockout or submission.
- Fabio Maldonado snapped a career-worst three-fight losing streak against Roger Hollett his first victory since Oct. 2010 -- a span of over 2.5 years. Maldonado also won a fight by decision for the first time since Sept. 2009 -- a span of over 3.5 years and 10 fights.
- Total cage time for the 13-bout UFC on FX 8 fight card was two hours, five minutes and 32 seconds.
- Dos Anjos is on his first four-fight win-streak since Oct. 2006-April 2007 -- a span of over six years and 17 fights.
- Betting favorites went 11-2 on the card.
- Paulo Thiago improved to 12-0 in his career when fighting in Brazil.
- Belfort tied Roy Nelson for the second-most "Knockout of the Night" bonuses in UFC history with four. Anderson Silva has the most all-time with six.
That's a wrap for this set of UFC facts.
Did you learn anything new/interesting? Do any of the facts change your perspective on Saturday's fights?
Let us know below!
(Some info courtesy of UFC, Fight Metric and BestFightOdds)
For more news and notes on UFC on FX 8: "Belfort vs. Rockhold," be sure to visit our complete event archive here.