The UFC’s loaded March schedule continues Saturday with UFC Fight Night 187, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
A matchup of welterweight contenders headlines the event. Leon Edwards (18-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) finally makes his return to the octagon after 20 months against short-notice replacement Belal Muhammad (18-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC).
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 187.
Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad
Edwards returns to competition for the first time since July 20, 2019. The 602-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 10-year career.
Edwards’ eight-fight UFC winning streak at welterweight is the second longest active streak in the division behind Kamaru Usman (13).
Edwards has completed at least one takedown against seven of the eight opponents in his current winning streak.
Edwards has earned seven of his 10 UFC victories by decision.
Edwards’ eight-second knockout of Seth Baczynski at UFC Fight Night 64 is the third fastest in UFC welterweight history. Jorge Masvidal holds the record with his five-second finish of Ben Askren at UFC 239 this month.
Edwards’ victory at 4:59 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 127 is tied for the second latest knockout in a three-fight UFC fight behind Ricky Simon’s victory over Merab Dvalishvili at 5:00 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night 129.
Belal Muhammad
Muhammad makes his second UFC appearance in a 28-day stretch. He won at UFC 258 on Feb. 13.
Muhammad is 8-1 in his past nine fights dating back to February 2017. His lone defeat came against Geoff Neal at UFC on ESPN+ 1.
Muhammad’s four-fight UFC winning streak at welterweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Usman (13) and Edwards (eight).
Muhammad has earned 13 of his 18 career victories by decision. That includes seven of his nine UFC wins.
Misha Cirkunov vs. Ryan Spann
Misha Cirkunov
Misha Cirkunov (15-5 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by stoppage. That includes all six of his UFC wins.
Cirkunov’s five submission victories in UFC light-heavyweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Glover Teixeira (six).
Cirkunov is one of two fighters in UFC History to win by Peruvian necktie submission. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 16. C.B. Dollaway also won with the technique.
Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau
Manel Kape
Manel Kape (15-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC) makes his second UFC appearance in a 35-day stretch. He lost at UFC Fight Night 184 on Feb. 6.
Matheus Nicolau (15-2-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) returns to the UFC for the first time since July 2018. He went 2-0 between stints with the organization.
Eryk Anders vs. Darren Stewart
Eryk Anders
Eryk Anders (13-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) is 3-5 in his past eight fights after starting his career on a 10-fight winning streak.
Darren Stewart (12-5 MMA, 5-5 UFC) is 5-4 since he dropped to the UFC middleweight division in November 2017.
Angela Hill vs. Ashley Yoder
Angela Hill vs. Ashley Yoder
Angela Hill (12-9 MMA, 6-9 UFC) competes in her 17th UFC strawweight bout, the most appearances in divisional history.
Hill is 6-7 since she returned to the UFC for a second stint in February 2017.
Hill’s seven victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10), Carla Esparza (eight) and Tecia Torres (eight).
Hill’s two knockout victories in UFC strawweight competition are tied for second most in divisional history behind Rose Namajunas (three).
Hill’s three knockdowns landed in UFC strawweight competition are tied with Namajunas for most in divisional history.
Hill’s nine losses in UFC competition are tied with Randa Markos for most for any female in company history.
Ashley Yoder (8-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC) was awarded the first 30-24 scorecard in a women’s UFC fight at UFC on ESPN+ 12.
Rani Yahya vs. Ray Rodriguez
Rani Yahya (26-10-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) has earned 20 of his 26 career victories by submission. He’s finished 13 of those wins in Round 1.
Yahya’s eight stoppage victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are tied with T.J. Dillashaw, Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland for most in combined divisional history.
Yahya’s eight submission victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are most in combined divisional history.
Yahya is one of four fighters in UFC history to earn a north-south choke submission in UFC competition. Jake Ellenberger, Jeff Monson and Michel Prazeres have also accomplished the feat.
Cortney Casey vs. J.J. Aldrich
Cortney Casey
Cortney Casey (9-8 MMA, 4-7 UFC) is 1-1 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in May.
Casey is 2-4 in her past six fights since January 2017.
J.J. Aldrich (8-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is 1-2 since she moved up to the UFC women’s flyweight division in March 2019.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.