You can check out our press release for the full details, but the quick version of it is this: FightMetric is looking to train and hire paid timekeepers to collect the data for our new Time in Position Project. We're looking for hardcore MMA fans with a keen eye and attention to detail to get paid to do what they love. Applications for the first cohort of timekeepers are due by January 29th, so act soon. Full application details can be found on this page.

Congrats to FightMetric Fellow Leland Roling on publishing his first article using the FightMetric database. Leland does an evaluation of the baseball ISO (Isolated Power) statistic and it's potential application in MMA. Check out the article and the comments at Bloody Elbow.

We've now posted the stats for the fight between Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva and there's something peculiar about the numbers. Despite landing eight takedowns throughout the match, Evans managed to land only three strikes on the ground. It is exceedingly rare to see an instance where a fighter lands more takedowns than ground strikes. In fact, Evans now holds the record for least strikes landed by a fighter with five or more takedowns landed. Previously, there had been only one such instance in modern UFC history -- Fabricio Camoes did it at UFC 106, landing five takedowns but only four strikes. We've now seen twice in two months something that had never happened before in the preceding nine years. What an age we live in!

This, of course, begs the question represented by the equation in the title: In the absence of any striking (or submission attempts, for that matter) once on the ground, are takedowns really an effective offensive technique?

Since we started producing in-depth fight reports way back in 2007, there has been one fight that is consistently our most requested: the controversial heavyweight championship match between Bas Rutten and Kevin Randleman from way back at UFC 20. And while we've had the stats compiled for that fight for quite some time, it just never seemed like the right moment to publish the report. But now, for those that have been clamoring for it, here is our holiday present to you:

Bas Rutten vs. Kevin Randleman

One thing to note: Even though the UFC said they had no rounds at the time, they did have what they called "overtime periods." The distinction is lost on us. When you stop the action, let the fighters rest for a period of time, restart the action with both fighters coming out of their corners, and reset the clock to zero, that sounds suspiciously like a new round. As such, we've split the fight into three rounds. The first round was 15 minutes and the next two rounds were three minutes each. Keep in mind that the ten-point must system did not exist at the time either.

Happy Holidays!

There's no need to belabor the point about how dominant Penn's performance was, but here's an interesting point:

Fact: Penn hit himself in the face more times immediately after the fight was called (11 strikes) than Sanchez landed to his head in the entire fight (7 strikes).

Check out the stats posted for last night's title fight between BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez. When you look at the Grappling tab, you'll see something that's never been done in the UFC before: No fighter has attempted so many takedowns in a UFC fight without landing a single one. Sanchez went 0 for 27 on takedowns. Prior to last night, the distinction belonged to Jason Brilz, who went 0 for 16 in his decision loss to Eliot Marshall at UFC 103. In Penn's long and storied history of excellent takedown defense, his previous highest total of takedowns defended was against Matt Serra, who went 1 for 17.

Question: When was the last time that BJ Penn got taken down while fighting at 155 pounds?

Answer: You have to go back more than six years to Penn's fight against Takanori Gomi. Lightweight opponents are 0 for their last 39 takedown attempts against BJ.

We've now posted the stats from the Kimbo Slice vs. Houston Alexander fight, but there was a much more statistically significant occurrence during last night's event. Wish your best to Jon Jones because he now holds the modern UFC record for most strikes landed in a single round in a losing effort. In the four minutes, fourteen seconds he fought against Matt Hamill, Jones landed a total of 44 significant strikes.

Prior to last night, the record was held by Alan Belcher in the third round of his fight against Yoshihiro Akiyama. Belcher managed 39 significant strikes in that round but lost the decision. But that was a decision, and a controversial one too. The greatest number of strikes in a single round by a fighter that lost by stoppage belongs to Colin Robinson who landed 36 strikes against Eddie Sanchez in Round 1 before getting knocked out in Round 2 at UFC 72.

But that was a different round, you'll say. If you want the previous record-holder for most strikes landed in the same round in which a fighter lost by stoppage, you have to go back to UFC 65, when Alessio Sakara landed 32 strikes on Drew McFedries before getting TKO'd at 4:07.

And here's where things get weird. While Jones now holds the record for most strikes landed in a round in a lost effort, he does not hold the record for most strikes landed in a round in a non-winning effort. That distinction belongs to...Alessio Sakara, who landed 46 strikes on Ron Faircloth in Round 1 of their fight at UFC 55. The fight was ruled a No Contest in Round 2 when Sakara couldn't continue after an accidental kick to the groin.