By The Numbers: Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa

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Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland takes on Brazilian brute Paulo Costa on June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The faint of heart may want to pass.

Renowned for his boxing skills and volume striking, Strickland looks to rebound from a split decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis. The American dropped the middleweight strap at UFC 297 only four months after capturing the title from Israel Adesanya in September. “Tarzan” appears to be fueled by an unyielding spirit to reclaim his position at the top. Meanwhile, Costa, a 185-pound powerhouse, aims to regain momentum after losing an entertaining scrap with Robert Whittaker in his last assignment. Costa’s physicality and finishing power could prove to be a decisive factor in the fight. The Brazilian has compiled a 2-3 record in his last five fights. The two men have engaged in plenty of verbal banter through heated exchanges on social media.

With the stage set for the battle between Strickland and Costa at 185 pounds, a look at some statistical intricacies that bind the fighters together:

6: Strickland holds the seventh spot on the middleweight divisional ladder for longest winning streak, with six straight victories.

1,887: Volume striking is the biggest weapon in Strickland’s arsenal. He occupies the third spot for most significant strikes landed in the history of the organization with 1,887.

1,155: Strickland currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the 185-pound division for most significant strikes landed with 1,155.

173: Strickland landed 173 significant head strikes on Uriah Hall in their July 2021 clash, the ninth-highest total in UFC history.

1.14: Strickland boasts the fifth-lowest bottom position percentage in UFC 185-pound history at 1.14%.

173: Strickland holds the No. 1 spot for most significant strikes landed in a middleweight championship bout, as he connected with 173 strikes of them against Du Plessis at UFC 297.

14: In 2020, Strickland fought Jack Marshman and Brendan Allen on 14 days’ notice, tying Chris Leben for third-fastest turnaround to win two UFC fights.

64.8: Strickland also exhibits solid defense in his fights, evading 64.8% strikes—the sixth-best percentage in the history of the 185-pound weight class.

6.20: Costa lands 6.20 strikes per minute on average, with a 58% striking accuracy.

6.38: Costa thrives in an all-out wars. In doing so, he also absorbs 6.38 strikes per minute on average.

75: While Costa generally likes to stand and trade leather with his opponents, he has a solid grappling game, bolstered by the 75% takedown accuracy rate he maintains in his fights.

4: An entertaining crowd-favorite, Costa has bagged four “Fight of the Night” bonuses in the UFC. In 2019, Sherdog.com awarded “Round of the Year” honors to Costa for the titanic battle he waged against Yoel Romero in the opening frame of their UFC 241 encounter.