After a nearly monthlong hiatus, the UFC opens its 2024 schedule on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 234, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
Light heavyweight contenders are set to rematch in the main event of the card. Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) and Johnny Walker (21-7 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will run it back with five rounds scheduled after their originally meeting at UFC 294 in October ended in a no contest due to an illegal knee from Ankalaev that halted the action.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC Fight Night 234.
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Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev
Ankalaev’s 11-fight UFC unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the longest active streak in the division.
Ankalaev’s 11-fight UFC unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is the second-longest in divisional history behind Jon Jones (18).
Ankalaev is the only light heavyweight in UFC history to earn multiple knockout victories stemming from kicks.
Ankalaev defend 86.4 percent of opponent takedown attempts in UFC light heavyweight competition, the second-highest rate among active fighters in the weight class behind Aleksandar Rakic (90 percent).
Johnny Walker
Johnny Walker
Walker’s four-fight UFC unbeaten streak at light heavyweight is tied for the fifth-longest active streak in the division behind Ankalaev (11), Carlos Ulberg (five), Khalil Rountree (five) and Alonzo Menifield (five).
Walker has earned 19 of his 21 career victories by stoppage. He’s finished six of his seven UFC wins by first-round knockout.
Walker is one of 10 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a spinning back fist. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.
Walker is one of two fighters in UFC history to win a light heavyweight bout by knockout stemming from a flying knee. James Irvin also accomplished the feat.
Walker is one of five fighters in modern UFC history to win a light heavyweight bout by knockout in 15 seconds or less. He accomplished the feat at UFC on ESPN+ 2.
Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape
Matheus Nicolau
Matheus Nicolau (19-3-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is 4-1 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in March 2021.
Nicolau is 6-2 since he dropped to the UFC flyweight division in July 2016.
Nicolau’s six knockdowns landed in UFC flyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Deiveson Figueiredo (11) and John Lineker (seven).
Nicolau defends 66.6 percent of all opponent significant strike attempts in UFC flyweight competition, the highest rate among active fighters in the weight class.
Manel Kape’s (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak at flyweight is tied for the third-longest active streak in the division behind Alexandre Pantoja (five) and Muhammad Mokaev (five).
Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez
Jim Miller
Jim Miller’s (36-17 MMA, 25-16 UFC) competes in his 43rd UFC bout, the most appearances in company history. His 40th lightweight appearance is the divisional record.
Miller’s 25 victories in UFC competition are most in company history.
Miller’s 22 victories in UFC lightweight competition are the most in divisional history.
Miller’s 17 stoppage victories in UFC competition are second-most in company history behind Charles Oliveira (20).
Miller’s 15 stoppage victories in UFC lightweight competition are most in divisional history.
Miller’s 47 submission attempts in UFC competition are the most in company history.
Miller’s 11 submission victories in UFC competition are tied with Demian Maia for second-most in company history behind Oliveira (15).
Miller’s nine submission victories in UFC lightweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Oliveira (10).
Miller’s 13 fight-night bonuses for UFC lightweight bouts are third-most in divisional history behind Joe Lauzon (15) and Donald Cerrone (14).
Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista
Ricky Simon
Ricky Simon (20-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has landed 39 takedowns in UFC bantamweight competition, the second most in divisional history behind Merab Dvalishvili (61).
Mario Bautista’s (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at bantamweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Dvalishvili (eight).
Phil Hawes vs. Brunno Ferreira
Phil Hawes
Phil Hawes (12-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is 1-3 in his past four fights dating back to November 2021.
Hawes’ 18-second knockout at UFC 254 marked the second-fastest debut for a middleweight in UFC history behind Mark Weir’s 10-second win at UFC 38.
Hawes lands 61.4 percent of his significant strikes in UFC middleweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Anthony Hernandez (61.9 percent).
Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
Andrei Arlovski
Andrei Arlovski (34-22 MMA, 23-16 UFC) competes in his 41st UFC bout, the most in heavyweight history and second-most appearances in company history behind Miller (43).
Arlovski is 13-12 (with one no contest) since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in June 2014.
Arlovski’s 23 victories in UFC competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for second-most is company history behind Miller (25).
Arlovski’s 23 victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s total fight time of 6:19:58 in UFC heavyweight competition is the most in divisional history.
Arlovski’s 11 stoppage victories in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for third-most in divisional history behind Derrick Lewis (13) and Frank Mir (13).
Arlovski’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC heavyweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Junior Dos Santos (14).
Arlovski’s 12 decision victories in UFC heavyweight competition are most in divisional history.
Arlovski landed 152 significant strikes at UFC on ESPN 4, the single-fight record for a three-round UFC heavyweight bout.
Arlovski’s 10 knockout losses in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce competition are second-most in combined organizational history behind Alistair Overeem (13).
Matthew Semelsberger vs. Preston Parsons
Matthew Semelsberger
Matthew Semelsberger (11-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn multiple knockouts of 20 seconds or less. Anthony Johnson and Terrance McKinney also accomplished the feat.
Semelsberger’s 10 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Thiago Alves (13), Matt Brown (11) and Jake Ellenberger (11).
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 234.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.