The UFC returns to pay-per-view with Saturday’s UFC 178 event, an 11-fight card that’s arguably the organization’s best of the year thus far.

Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena plays host to an event, where eight fighters in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA Power Rankings compete, meaning a lot is on the line in “Sin City.”

A flyweight championship bout serves as the main event as reigning 125-pound kingpin Demetrious Johnson (20-2-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) looks to continue his dominant run as champion when he meets title challenger Chris Cariaso (17-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC).

The title bout is one of many meaningful matchups on the card. For more on the numbers behind the 22 fighters set to grace the octagon this weekend, here are 100 pre-fight facts about UFC 178.

Main event

Johnson competes in his eighth UFC flyweight bout, the most of any fighter in divisional history.

Johnson’s four consecutive UFC championship title defenses are tied with Ronda Rousey for the third most among current titleholders behind Jon Jones (seven) and Jose Aldo (six).

Johnson’s six-fight UFC winning streak is the longest active streak in the UFC flyweight division.

Johnson’s six victories in UFC flyweight competition are the most of any fighter in divisional history.

Johnson’s average fight time of 18:35 is the second longest in UFC history behind Aldo (20:20).

Johnson’s 576 significant strikes landed in UFC flyweight competition are a divisional record. His 770 total strikes landed are also the most in divisional history.

Johnson’s significant strike accuracy rate of 56.2 percent is the best of any fighter in UFC flyweight history with at least five bouts and 350 significant strike attempts. His significant strike defense rate of 67.9 percent is second best in divisional history behind Phil Harris (68 percent).

Johnson’s knockout of Joseph Benavidez at the 2:08 mark of Round 1 at UFC on FOX 9 is the fastest KO in UFC flyweight history. The brief contest was also the shortest bout of Johnson’s UFC/WEC career.

Johnson’s 73 significant clinch strikes landed against John Dodson at UFC on FOX 6 are the second most ever landed in a single UFC fight behind Sarah Kaufman’s 84 significant clinch strikes landed against Leslie Smith at the TUF Nations Finale.

Johnson’s submission of John Moraga at the 3:43 mark of Round 5 at UFC on FOX 8 is the latest stoppage recorded in a UFC fight. It was also just the sixth fifth-round finish in organizational history.

Johnson’s 12 takedowns landed against Moraga are the most ever in a UFC fight without a single failed attempt.

Johnson is one of two fighters in UFC history to record 10 or more takedowns in two separate bouts. The other is former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Johnson has completed 40 takedowns in his 10 UFC bantamweight and flyweight appearances, the most of any fighter competing at 135 pounds or lighter.

Johnson has earned a different fight-night bonus in three of his past four UFC appearances. He’s one of four fighters in history to win three different fight-night bonuses spanning across three UFC fights. Donald Cerrone, Chan Sung Jung and Wilson Gouveia are the others.

Johnson has been awarded four fight-night bonuses during his UFC flyweight career, the most of any fighter in divisional history.

Johnson will compete in his ninth consecutive UFC main- or co-main event fight.

Cariaso’s three-fight UFC winning streak is the second longest active streak in the UFC flyweight division behind Johnson (six).

Cariaso’s four victories in UFC flyweight competition are tied for the fourth most in divisional history behind Johnson (six), Benavidez (five) and John Lineker (five).

Cariaso is 4-2 since he dropped to the UFC flyweight division in July 2012.

Cariaso absorbs just 2.06 strikes per minute of fighting, the least of any fighter in UFC flyweight history.

Co-main event

Donald Cerrone’s (24-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the lightweight division behind Khabib Nurmagomedov (six), Myles Jury (six) and T.J. Grant (five).

Cerrone, with a victory, can become the second UFC fighter to earn four wins in 2014. Welterweight Neil Magny was first to accomplish the feat.

Cerrone’s current streak of four consecutive finishes is tied with Rousey for the second longest streak of stoppages among active UFC fighters.

Cerrone will compete in his 25th UFC/WEC lightweight bout, the most of any fighter in the combined history of the two organizations.

Cerrone has earned 11 victories in UFC lightweight competition, tied for the third most of any fighter in company history. His 17 victories in UFC/WEC lightweight competition are the most in the combined history of the two organizations.

Cerrone has finished 12 opponents in UFC/WEC lightweight bouts, the most of any fighter in the combined history of the two organizations.

Cerrone’s 12 knockdowns landed in UFC/WEC lightweight bouts are the second most in the combined history of the two organizations behind Melvin Guillard (13).

Cerrone is one of three fighters in UFC history to earn three or more knockout victories stemming from a kick to the head. Lightweight Edson Barboza and middleweight Vitor Belfort are the others.

Cerrone landed 49 leg kicks against Vagner Rocha at UFC 131, the second-most in a three-round UFC fight. Thiago Alves holds the record with 52 leg kicks landed against Seth Baczynski at UFC on FOX 11.

Cerrone’s eight submission victories in UFC/WEC lightweight competition are the second most in the combined history of the two organizations behind Nate Diaz (nine).

Cerrone has defended 86.7 of all opponent takedown attempts in UFC lightweight competition, the second highest defense rate in divisional history behind Gleison Tibau (92.2 percent).

Cerrone has been awarded 15 UFC/WEC fight-night bonuses, the most of any fighter in the combined history of the two organizations. “Cowboy” has earned a reported total of $655,000 for those bonuses. He has earned a bonus in 10 of his 14 UFC appearances.

Cerrone is the only fighter in UFC history to earn a “Fight of the Night,” “Knockout of the Night,” “Submission of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonus during his career.

Eddie Alvarez (25-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a former Bellator MMA lightweight champion and USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie’s No. 5 ranked 155-pound fighter, makes his UFC debut at the event.

Alvarez has earned 21 of his 25 career victories by knockout (14) or submission (seven).

Alvarez has never lost a fight that has gone to a decision.

Remaining main card

Dustin Poirier (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) competes in his 11th UFC featherweight bout, the most of any fighter in divisional history. His total fight time of 1:40:53 is second most in UFC featherweight history behind Aldo (2:01:59).

Poirier has registered eight wins in UFC featherweight competition, the most of any fight in divisional history.

Poirier has earned five stoppage victories in UFC featherweight competition, the most finishes of any fighter in divisional history.

Poirier has registered three submission victories in UFC featherweight competition, the second most of any fighter in divisional history behind Charles Oliveira (four).

Poirier is the only fighter in UFC history to earn two submission victories stemming from a D’arce choke. He used the technique to finish Pablo Garza at UFC on FOX 1 and Jonathan Brookins at the TUF 16 Finale.

Poirier’s 474 significant strikes landed in UFC featherweight competition are the third most in divisional history behind Max Holloway (497) and Nam Phan (483). His 48.7 percent significant striking accuracy ranks fifth in 145-pound history.

Conor McGregor (15-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) competes outside of Europe for just the second time in his professional career. He is 1-0 when fighting in the U.S.

McGregor has earned 13 of his 15 career victories by knockout.

McGregor recorded the third fastest debut victory in UFC featherweight history with his 67-second knockout of Marcus Brimage at UFC on FUEL TV 9.

Tim Kennedy’s (18-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC) four-fight MMA winning streak is his longest since 2007-2010.

Kennedy has earned 14 of his 18 professional victories by submission (eight) or knockout (six).

Kennedy’s five submission victories during his Strikeforce career are tied with Luke Rockhold for most in the now-defunct promotion’s history.

Yoel Romero’s (8-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) four-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the second longest active streak in the middleweight division behind champion Chris Weidman (eight).

Romero has earned seven of his eight professional victories by knockout. That includes three of his four wins under the UFC banner.

Romero is one of 12 fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from a flying-knee strike. He accomplished the feat against Clifford Starks at UFC on FOX 7. That knockout, which came at the 1:32 mark of Round 1, was the second fastest flying-knee finish in UFC history.

Romero is the only fighter in UFC history to earn back-to-back victories by third-round knockout. He accomplished the feat against Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night 35 and Ronny Markes at UFC Fight Night 31.

Romero is one of two fighters in UFC history to earn a knockout victory stemming from elbow strikes to the body. He accomplished the feat against Brunson at UFC Fight Night 35. Matt Brown earned a similar finish of Jordan Mein at UFC on FOX 7. It was also just the third finish of its kind in UFC history; Cheick Kongo forced Paul Buentello to submit with elbows to the body at UFC on VERSUS 1.

Cat Zingano (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returns to octagon after a 532-day break from competition, her longest layoff in a professional career that dates back to June 2008.

Amanda Nunes’ (9-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) two-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the women’s bantamweight division behind champion Rousey (four), Bethe Correia (three) and Jessica Andrade (three).

Nunes is one of two fighters in UFC women’s bantamweight history to earn back-to-back first-round knockout victories. Rousey is the other. She accomplished the feat against Germaine de Randamie at UFC Fight Night 31 and Sheila Gaff at UFC 163.

Nunes has earned all nine of her professional victories by knockout or submission.

Preliminary card

Dominick Cruz (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) returns to the octagon after a 1,092-day break from competition, his longest layoff in a pro career that dates back to January 2005.

Cruz has not fought since he defended the UFC bantamweight championship against Johnson in October 2011. An injury layoff forced the UFC to strip him of the title, which was awarded to Renan Barao and subsequently captured by T.J. Dillashaw.

Cruz competes in a bout scheduled for three rounds for the first time since August 2009.

Cruz enters the event on a 10-fight winning streak. He hasn’t suffered a loss since March 2007.

Cruz has earned nine victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight division and is tied for the second most wins in divisional history behind Scott Jorgensen (10).

Cruz landed 243 total strikes in his WEC 53 victory over Jorgensen, the most ever in a UFC/WEC bantamweight contest.

Cruz defends strikes at a rate of 76.5 percent, the second highest accuracy of any UFC/WEC bantamweight in history behind Charlie Valencia (77.8 percent).

Cruz has landed 41 takedowns in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition, the most of any fighter in the combined history of the two organizations.

Cruz defends takedowns at a rate of 83.3 percent, the second highest accuracy of any UFC/WEC bantamweight in history behind Barao (96.2 percent).

Takeya Mizugaki’s (20-7-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak is the second longest active streak in the bantamweight division behind Raphael Assuncao (six).

Mizugaki competes in his 10th UFC bantamweight fight and will tie Urijah Faber for the most bouts in divisional history. His total fight time of 3:24:20 in his UFC/WEC career is the longest of any bantamweight in the combined history of the two promotions.

Mizugaki has earned nine victories in UFC/WEC bantamweight division and is tied for the second most victories in divisional history behind Jorgensen (10).

Mizugaki has earned seven victories in UFC bantamweight division and is tied with champion Dillashaw, Barao and Faber for the most wins in divisional history.

Mizugaki has earned six of his seven UFC victories by decision. He has defeated his opponent by going the distance in 14 of his 20 professional wins overall.

Mizugaki’s 695 significant strikes landed in UFC/WEC bantamweight competition are the second most in divisional history behind Jorgensen (703). His 1,159 total strikes are the most in bantamweight history.

Mizugaki’s 152 significant strikes landed against Nam Phan at UFC Fight Night 33 stand as the most ever in a UFC/WEC bantamweight fight.

Mizugaki and Phan combined for 252 significant strikes landed in their bout, a single-fight UFC/WEC bantamweight record.

Mizugaki has landed 16 takedowns in UFC bantamweight competition and is tied for the second most takedowns in divisional history behind Faber (18). His 53.3 percent takedown accuracy rate is second in the weight class behind Erik Perez (61.9 percent).

Jorge Masvidal (27-8 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has earned three of his four UFC victories by decision. Ten of his past 11 professional fights have ended in a decision.

Masvidal has landed a greater number of significant strikes than his opponent in eight of his past nine fights that have gone the distance.

Masvidal has landed 51.6 percent of his significant strikes in the UFC, the highest rate among active lightweights and third highest in divisional history behind Caol Uno (54.6 percent) and T.J. Grant (54 percent).

Masvidal is one of just four fighters in UFC history to finish a bout by submission at the 4:59 mark of Round 2. He accomplished the feat against Michael Chiesa at UFC on FOX 8.

Masvidal’s 76.8 percent striking defense rate during his Strikeforce career stands as the highest of any fighter in the now-defunct organization’s history.

Masvidal’s 83.3 percent takedown defense rate was the third best in Strikeforce history.

James Krause (21-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by stoppage.

Krause’s submission of Sam Stout at the 4:47 mark of Round 3 at UFC 161 stands as the second latest submission in a three-round UFC lightweight fight. The finish came just one second short of Cole Miller’s record tap-out of Jorge Gurgel at the 4:48 mark of Round 3 at UFC 86.

Patrick Cote (20-8 MMA, 6-8 UFC) is 2-0 since he dropped to the UFC welterweight division in March 2013. He has earned decision victories in both of his 170-pound fights.

Cote has suffered all eight of his professional losses under the UFC banner.

Cote holds a 4:1 knockdown ratio in UFC competition.

Stephen Thompson’s (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) three-fight UFC winning streak is tied for the fourth longest active streak in the welterweight division behind Ryan LaFlare (four), Gunnar Nelson (four) and Neil Magny (four).

Thompson has earned three of his four UFC victories by knockout.

Thompson outlands his opponents at a +1.78 strike differential rate, the highest among active UFC welterweights and third highest in divisional history behind Georges St-Pierre (+2.39) and Duane Ludwig (+2.02).

Thompson lands 4.84 significant strikes per minute of fighting, the highest output rate among active UFC welterweight fighters.

John Howard (22-9 MMA, 6-4 UFC) has earned three of his six UFC victories by split decision. Overall, he’s earned four of his six wins with the promotion by going the distance.

Howard’s knockout of Dennis Hallman at the 4:55 mark of Round 3 at the TUF 10 Finale is the latest knockout in a three-round UFC fight.

Brian Ebersole (50-16-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) enters the event on the first two-fight losing streak of his 68-bout professional career. The 33-year-old has not registered a victory since a June 2012 decision win over T.J. Waldburger.

Ebersole competes in just his second pro bout since June 2012.

Ebersole has never suffered a knockout loss in his 68-fight career.

Manny Gamburyan (13-9 MMA, 4-7 UFC) drops to the bantamweight division for the first time in his career. He has previously fought in the UFC at lightweight and featherweight.

Gamburyan could become the fifth fighter in UFC history to earn victories in three different weight classes. He’d join George Roop, Diego Sanchez, Kenny Florian and Lucas Martins in accomplishing the feat.

Gamburyan has earned all three of the victories in his current UFC stint by decision.

Gamburyan is 2-4 with one no-contest in his past seven professional bouts.

Gamburyan leaves the 145-pound weight class with 28 takedowns landed in UFC/WEC featherweight competition, the second most in the combined history of the two organizations behind Chad Mendes (37). Gamburyan has taken down 12 of his 15 UFC/WEC opponents.

Cody Gibson (12-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) competes in the UFC for the first time when backed by a full training camp. His previous two appearances were fought on short notice.

For more on UFC 178, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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