The rivalry between Manchester and Liverpool needs no introduction. The cities go head-to-head wherever and whenever they can, and the world of UFC is no different.
Ahead of Tom Aspinall’s UFC Heavyweight main event against Curtis Blaydes on July 23rd. LiveScore Bet has taken a deep dive into UFC fight data to assess scouser Paddy Pimblett’s famous claim that ‘scousers don’t get knocked out’.
It’s a bold claim, but the truth is they don’t land many KOs either. The UK city with the highest KO percentage is Manchester- 30% of their fights end up in a knockout victory!
Manchester MMA Fighters Most Likely to Knockout Opponent
Here Are Some UFC Knockout Stats:
- Manchester fighters win over half (55%) of all their fights.
- Manchester fighters win 30% of all their fights via KO, meaning 45% of their wins come via KOs.
- Manchester wins 7% more fights via knockout than any other city in the UK and Ireland (However, Liverpool does win 4% more fights overall.)
- Manchester fighters win 20% more fights overall than Leeds with a 13% higher knockout ratio.
- The UK’s only ever champion, Micheal Bisping hails from Manchester.
| Manchester | 30% |
| Nottingham | 28% |
| London | 27% |
| Glasgow | 23% |
| Liverpool | 23% |
| Birmingham | 21% |
| Dublin | 21% |
| Swansea | 20% |
| Leeds | 17% |
| Newcastle | 15% |
Into Manchester’s Numbers
Manchester fighters land a knockout in almost a third of their bouts. It’s a fact! If you’re looking for drama, look no further. On top of that, nearly half of total wins by Mancunian fighters come via knockouts. This is the most in the UK and Ireland.
Their win percentage is 14% higher than scousers and 18% higher than Leeds fighters. Manchester is also home to the UK’s only champ, the now-retired Michael Bisping. Giving the city the ultimate bragging rights.
29-year-old Salford native Aspinall has an MMA record of 12-2. Delivering 9 knockouts over his 14 fights. He has been perfect since his UFC debut in July 2020. Going 5-0 finishing all of them, with three KO/TKO’s.
The Hall of Fame inductee Michael Bisping won 30 of his 39 bouts. With 18 of them coming by way of Knockout.
Bisping did suffer some KO’s of his own though, being knocked out three times. First in 2009 at UFC 100 by Dan Henderson. Then again in 2013 by Brazilian Vitor Belfort. Then lastly in his final bout against Kelvin Gastelum.
Into Liverpool’s Numbers
Out of Paddy Pimblett’s 21 professional fights, he has won 18 but only six have been via way of KO/TKO. But at 26, he still has plenty of time to add numbers to this list and catch up with Michael Bisping.
As of now, Paddy is yet to have been knocked out himself, even on a technicality, but there is a first time for everything. His opponent this weekend Jordan Leavitt has won three of his four UFC bouts. One of which was a knockout, when he slammed Matt Wiman into unconsciousness in December 2020.
As for fellow scouser Molly McCann. The flyweight has won 12 of her 16 professional fights. She has also never been knocked out and has five knockouts to her name. Including her last opponent, Luana Carolina. Who she KO’d spectacularly with an unbelievable spinning elbow in March.
Her American opponent this weekend Hannah Goldy has won six out of her eight professional bouts. She hasn’t been knocked out and boasts only one win via KO. That came against Vanessa Grimes in 2018.
Featured images credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
