UFC Fight Night 236 pre-event facts: Brad Tavares on verge of a Michael Bisping record

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February 7, 2024 4:20 pm ET

The UFC continues its busy February schedule Saturday with UFC Fight Night 236, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.

For the third straight event, middleweights take stage in the headliner as Jack Hermansson (23-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) returns from a career-long layoff to share the octagon with the surging Joe Pyfer (12-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in a five-round bout.

For more on the numbers behind the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 235.

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Jack Hermansson

Hermansson returns to competition for the first time since Dec. 3, 2022. The 434-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 14-year career.

Joe Pyfer

Pyfer has earned 11 of his 12 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his UFC wins.

Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili

Dan Ige (17-7 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is one of two featherweights in UFC/WEC combined history to earn multiple knockout wins in less than one minute. Chan Sung Jung also accomplished the feat.

Andre Fili (23-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) competes in his 22nd UFC featherweight bout, tied with Cub Swanson for the third-most appearances in divisional history behind Darren Elkins (26) and Max Holloway (26).

Fili has earned 11 victories in UFC featherweight competition, tied for the fourth-most in divisional history behind Holloway (20), Elkins (17) and Swanson (14).

Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Brad Tavares (20-8 MMA, 15-8 UFC) competes in his 24th UFC middleweight bout, tied with Michael Bisping for most appearances in divisional history.

Tavares’ 15 victories in UFC middleweight competition are tied for second-most in divisional history behind Bisping (16).

Tavares’ total fight time of 4:56:40 in UFC middleweight competition is second-most in divisional history behind Bisping (5:15:15).

Tavares’ 13 decision victories in UFC middleweight competition are the most in divisional history.

Tavares’ 13 decision victories in UFC competition are tied for second-most in company history behind Neil Magny (14).

Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers

Michael Johnson (21-19 MMA, 13-15 UFC) is 2-5 since he returned to the lightweight division in October 2019.

Johnson’s 11 knockdowns landed in UFC lightweight competition are tied with Donald Cerrone for second-most in divisional history behind Melvin Guillard (13).

Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates

Trevin Giles (16-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) is 2-2 since he dropped to the welterweight division in January 2022.

Giles is one 17 fighters in UFC history to earn victories in three weight classes. He’s won fights at light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight.

Damir Hadzovic vs. Bolaji Oki

Damir Hadzovic (14-7 MMA, 4-5 UFC) returns to competition for the first time since July 23, 2022. The 567-day layoff is the longest of his nearly 15-year career.

Loma Lookboonmee vs. Bruna Brasil

Loma Lookboonmee (8-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) lands 58.7 percent of her significant strike attempts in UFC strawweight competition, the second-best rate in divisional history behind Tatiana Suarez (63.6 percent).

Devin Clark vs. Marcin Prachnio

Marcin Prachnio (16-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) is one of four light heavyweights in UFC history to earn a knockout stemming from a body kick. Tyson Pedro, Jan Blachowicz and Rich Franklin also accomplished the feat.

Max Griffin vs. Jeremiah Wells

Jeremiah Wells (12-3-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) absorbs just 1.14 significant strikes per minute in UFC welterweight competition, the third-lowest rate in divisional history behind Michael Chiesa (0.88) and Pete Spratt (1.04).

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 236.

UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on Twitter @MJCflipdascript.

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