Yanez vs Diaz at UFC 334: A Pure Striker Faces Peru's Takedown Threat

Adrian Yanez makes his living on the feet. Of the 511 significant strikes he has landed in the UFC, 91% came standing, and his takedown average is zero. Juan Diaz, nicknamed "Pegajoso," averages 5.50 takedowns per 15 minutes. The bantamweights meet at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden on November 14.

How they stack up:

• Record and age: Yanez is 18-6-1 and 32; Diaz, who represents Peru, is 16-1-1 and 27.
• Output: Yanez lands 5.95 significant strikes per minute and absorbs 5.22. Diaz lands 3.72 and absorbs 3.40. Both land exactly 42% of their significant strikes, and Diaz has the slightly better striking defense, 59% to 57%.
• Power: Yanez averages 1.57 knockdowns to Diaz's 0.79. Twelve of Yanez's wins are knockouts (67%), with nine first-round finishes; Diaz has five knockouts and three first-round finishes.
• Grappling: Diaz has completed five of his 14 takedown attempts and averages 0.79 submission attempts per 15 minutes. Yanez stops 76% of takedowns.
• Size: Diaz is an inch and a half taller, 5'8½" to 5'7"; Yanez has a half-inch reach edge, 70 inches to 69.5.

Two caveats. Diaz made his Octagon debut in May 2026, so his UFC sample is small: 71 significant strikes. And for all his takedowns, 94% of those strikes came standing. Half of his 16 wins (eight) came by decision, compared with four for Yanez. Yanez, by contrast, has been in the UFC since October 2020 and does nearly all of his work at range: just 2% of his strikes come in the clinch and 7% on the ground. Submissions are a side note for both men: two wins (11%) for Yanez, three (19%) for Diaz.

So the fight hinges on one thing: can Diaz get Yanez down often enough against a 76% takedown defense, or does it stay a standup fight where Yanez's power numbers do the talking?

The card kicks off with the early prelims at 5 p.m. local time; the prelims follow at 7 p.m. and the main card at 9 p.m. Secure your seat: UFC 334 tickets at MSG.