Kamaru Usman dominated Demian Maia for five rounds to win a unanimous decision in the UFC Chile main event.
The marquee matchup of UFC Chile involved the promotion’s #7 Kamaru Usman dominating the #5 Demian Maia for the bulk of five rounds. Maia had some success in the opening round, but Usman dominated the rest of the fight. He was able to stuff the majority of Maia’s takedowns, forcing the Brazilian to stand with him.
Usman was clearly the better athlete out there, and even dropped Maia out there in the fourth frame. Maia continued to search for a takedown, but it was all for not as Usman wasn’t having any of it. Usman is now 13-1 and 8-0 in the UFC, and has just knocked off the #5 guy in the world. What will be next for Usman?
Main Event:
Kamaru Usman def. Demian Maia by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46 x2): Welterweight
There was a bit of feeling out going on across the first minute of the opening round before Maia shot in and scored the briefest of takedowns. Maia somehow snuck to the back of his opponent, almost in a standing twister position, but the referee decided to break apart the fighters. On the feet, Maia landed a hard left hand that surely got the attention of Usman.
Usman came out in the second round looking to tee off with his hands, but was still prepared to stuff the takedown at the same time. Maia was forced to fight on his feet, where Usman appeared to be the much more comfortable striker, but did pull guard in the final 30 seconds, even though nothing came of it.
Big looping punches were launched by Usman to open up the third round, but he then switched it up and slowed the pace, on top of tightening up his strikes. Maia was unable to find a takedown, so he began to flop to his back where he unsuccessfully waved in his opponent.
A big right hand dropped Maia to start the fourth round, and Usman went right in for the kill. After a brief moment, usman decided to return to his feet and allowed Maia to do the same. The takedowns were simply not there for Maia. Usman was too fast and too good of a wrestler for anything that Maia threw his way. The final round looked a lot like the previous rounds, with Maia getting punched a bunch while failing to secure a takedown.