D. Maia wins in UFC Singapore. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook ufcbrasil
'Only jiu-jitsu saves'. The old saying known by practitioners of the sport serves to illustrate the scenario of the main fight of the UFC Singapore, held this Saturday morning (26). Demian Maia he had a close fight with Ben Askren, but the American tried to take the Brazilian to the ground and paid a high price. The black belt from São Paulo reversed his position on the ground, took the back and finished with a beautiful rear naked choke in the third round.
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With the triumph, Demian reaches his 28th victory as a professional, the 22nd within the UFC, and approaches the record of 23rd. Donald Cerrone. On the other hand, Askren, who arrived undefeated in Ultimate from One FC, suffers his second consecutive defeat in three appearances in the Octagon.
“I knew I couldn't try to stand up all the time, but I knew I could have an advantage. He's a very tough guy. I defend takedowns well, on the ground I worked well on positions. I know I'm one of the best grapplers in the world and I could have a belt as the best grappler, just as I'm going to have the toughest one in the world's fight. Jorge masvidal against Nate diaz”, joked Demian, before challenging Diego Sanchez.
“I have two more fights in my contract, I would like to fight with Diego Sanchez. If people like it, I would like to do this fight”, he concluded
The fight
With two specialists in ground fighting, Demian, a multi-time jiu-jitsu champion, and Askren, an Olympic athlete and world champion in wrestling, the first round took place practically entirely on the feet. The Brazilian showed superiority in boxing and worked good combinations of punches and knees in the clinch. On the other hand, the North American had difficulty finding his feet in the duel and tried to shorten the match in a clumsy way.
In the second round, Askren came back better. He, even without a refined technique, walked forward, throwing blows at Maia. The Brazilian, in turn, was unable to repeat his good performance in the stand-up fight. Ben even put his wrestring into action and took the fight to the ground. But Demian quickly reversed, attacking with a triangle, followed by an omoplata to stay on top. Askren still managed to finish the partial with an advantage after defending an attack on the arm of the Brazilian athlete.
The balance continued in the third round. Demian returned to landing good strikes while standing, while Askren went in search of the takedown. At the first opportunity, the Brazilian hit the ground and got up, but in the second attack, the North American took him down, but his advantage position was reversed, when the Brazilian caught his foot. Maia arrived in mount, moved to the back and secured a tight rear-naked choke to finish the fight.
UFC Singapore results
MAIN CARD
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Demian Maia submitted Ben Askren with a rear naked choke at 3m54s of R3
Lightweight (up to 70,3kg): Stevie Ray defeated Michael Johnson in the majority decision of the judges (29-28 28-28 29-28)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Beneil Dariush submitted Frank Camacho via rear naked choke 2m02s into R1
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Cyryl Gane submitted Don'Tale Mayes with a heel hook at 4m46s of R3
Welterweight (up to 77kg): muslim salikhov derrotou Laureano Staropoli in the unanimous decision of the judges
PRELIMINARY CARD
Straw weight (up to 62,1kg): Randa markos derrotou Ashley yoder in the judges' split decision (29-28 28-29 29-28)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Raphael Fiziev defeated Alex White via unanimous decision (30-27 29-28 30-27)
Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Movsar Evloev derrotou Enrique Barzola in the unanimous decision of the judges (29-28 30-27 29-28)
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Sergei Pavlovich derrotou Maurice Greene by technical knockout at 2m11s of R1
Straw weight (up to 52,1kg): Loma Lookboonmee defeated Alexandra Albu via split judges' decision (30-27 28-29, 30-27)
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Raphael Bebezão derrotou Jeff Hughes in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27 30-27 30-27)
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