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UFC stopped by at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore for a stacked fight card featuring a host of important contests.
Wrestling stand-out Ben Askren took on BJJ virtuoso Demian Maia in the main event to determine the best grappler in the UFC.
The co-main event saw Michael Johnson make his return to the Lightweight division in a fight against Stevie Ray. The card also featured a brilliant heavyweight fight between the undefeated Ciryl Gane and Don'Tale Mayes.
The card didn't disappoint as there weren't many dull moments throughout the event. On that note, here are the results and highlights of the show:
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UFC Fight Night 162 Results: Prelims
Randa Markos def. Ashley Yoder via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Rafael Fiziev def. Alex White via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Movsar Evloev def. Enrique Barzola via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Sergei Pavlovich def. Maurice Greene via TKO (punches) (2:11, Round One)
Loma Lookboonmee def. Alexandra Albu via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Raphael Pessoa def. Jeff Hughes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC Fight Night 162 Results: Main Card
#1 Muslim Salikhov vs. Laureano Staropoli (Welterweight)
Round 1: The fight kicked off with Salikhov moving forward and Staropoli being the more cautious of the two. He stayed out of the pocket but engaged with a spinning attack. Salikhov read it well and fired in a leg kick. Salikhov got his range going and landed body kicks and counter rights while also switching stances.
Salikhov attempted a variety of offensive moves which included spinning kicks, back kicks and low leg kicks. Staropoli connected with a Brazilian Kick, followed by a spinning elbow. Salikhov went for a wheel kick and a few low kicks. Staropoli and Salikhov both exchanged spinning attacks to end the round.
Round 2: Salikhov continued to rely on the kicks. He tried spinning and leg variations of the kick and scored a good number of points using his legs. Salikhov picked up the pace as the round went on as he looked or a finish.
He rocked Staropoli with a big right and followed it up with big shots against the fence. Staropoli held on but Salikhov was still lurking around for the finish. Salikhov ended the round strongly with a lead left hook.
Round 3: Staropoli knew that he needed a big round and his intent was visible in the urgency in his approach. He stuffed a takedown and landed an overhand right. Salikhov also defended a takedown well and connected with lead right-hand shots. Salikhov managed to score a takedown midway through the round but he couldn't keep Staropoli down for long. Staropoli was landing shots. He got in a good elbow and a few hooks to Salikhov's body. With just a minute left to go, Staropoli attempted a wheel kick and a head kick. Staropoli wanted a finish but Salikhov didn't allow that to happen as the fight went to the judges' scorecards.
Result: Muslim Salikhov def. Laureano Staropoli via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-28)
Despite the late surge from Staropoli, Salikhov had done a good job in the first two rounds to get the nod on the scorecards.
#2 Ciryl Gane vs. Don'Tale Mayes (Heavyweight)
Ciryl Gane was undefeated coming into the second fight of the main card but his spotless record was in jeopardy as he put in on the line against Don'Tale Mayes - a fighter on a four-fight MMA win streak. This had all the makings of en explosive heavyweight showdown.
Round 1: Mayes went for an oblique kick. Gane looked to catch it and counter with a right. Both men looked really agile and mobile on their feet, however, Gane was the aggressor as he coaxed Mayes to engage.
Mayes answered with a pressing combo. Gane shifted stances a lot but Mayes didn't lose his focus and kept getting in some good offense. Gane connected with a body kick and wildly swung his hands. Mayes covered up and ate a few shots.
Two massive kicks reverberated across the area. Gane went for the 1-2, Mayes ducked and landed a straight counter right. Gane landed a three-piece combo that hurt Mayes. Gane kept up the pressure with brutal step-in elbows. Gane dropped Mayes with a flying knee and he followed it up with hammer fists. Mayes was saved by the bell. Close!
Round 2: Mayes with a wild overhand. Gane looked light on his feet. A swift jab from Gane. Mayes absorbed a groin shot, for which he was given a few minutes t recover.
Gane went back on the offensive as the fight resumed. He went for two high head kicks. Mayes lost his balance after he got hit with a straight kick to the body. Gane had the edge with his hand combinations as he was the more inventive of the two. Gane tagged Mayes with a punch to the back of the head. Gane had landed over 20 kicks now. He landed another punch to Mayes' temple. Mayes started to labor a bit as Gane was still light.
Mayes committed to a right, Gayes level changed and took Mayes down. Gane transitioned from side control to the south position. Mayes tried to get up to his feet. He controlled Gane's wrists well and got back up. The round ended with Gane attempting to get Mayes down again.
Round 3: Gane had two rounds in the bag and all he needed to do was to avoid taking a lot of damage. He targeted the body with kicks. He went for a wild uppercut but Mayes got out of the way. Front-kick, right-hand combo from Gane. Gane tried to get a straight left through Mayes' guard. Gane landed at will as he connected with jabs and followed it up with short rights. Gane connected with another snappy body kick.
Mayes needed something big to turn the scales in his favor but Gane was methodically picking him apart. Gane was landing shots in the pocket with ease. Mayes felt a kick to his gut and began retreating. He attempted a few last-ditch spinning back fists but Gane was all over him. Mayes didn't get finished but he did get taken down with 30 seconds to go in the fight. Gane was in half guard and he smartly caught Mayes' right leg and went back first into the mat. He got hold of Mayes' heel and locked in a tight heel hook. Mayes tapped with merely 20 seconds left to go.
Result: Ciryl Gane def. Don'Tale Mayes via submission (heel hook) (4:46, Round 3)
Gane's impressive win was the latest submission finish in UFC's heavyweight history.
The undefeated Ciryl Gane looked every bit a fighter he was hyped up to be and better. His striking was dynamic and the submission was just the cherry on top of the cake. 'Bon Gamin' looks like the future of the Heavyweight division.
#3 Beneil Dariush vs. Frank Camacho (Lightweight)
Beneil Dariush was on a two-fight win streak heading into this fight. Frank Camacho returned to the Lightweight division in his last outing and ended his two-fight losing streak with a TKO win over Nick Hein in June earlier this year.
Round 1: Daruish went for the high body kick. He followed it up with a knee to the body. Dariush landed three clean left hands in the pocket. He went up high with the head kick. Dariush kept up the pressure with a straight right.
He changed levels, got the single leg and took Camacho down. He grabbed Camacho's back with relative ease and placed the under hooks and wrapped his arms around Camacho's neck for the RNC. He trapped Camacho's body with his legs, applied the squeeze and forced the tap. Absolutely slick!
Result: Beneil Dariush def. Frank Camacho via submission (read-naked choke) 2:02, Round 1)
It was Beneil Dariush's night. The Assyrian-American looked improved on the feet and was clinical once he got the fight down to the mat. The BJJ black belt is now on a three-fight win streak and on his way back to the top of the Lightweight division.
#4 Michael Johnson vs. Stevie Ray (Lightweight)
Stevie Ray promised to be a stiff challenge for Michael Johnson's first fight back at the Lightweight division. Ray, however, needed a big win to get his career back on track as he had lost three of his last four fights.
Round 1: Southpaw vs. Southpaw. Ray went for the low kicks. He changed levels and went for a takedown. Stuffed by Johnson. Another quick leg kick from Ray. Johnson connected with a 1-2, with the left particularly being good. A good right hook landed.
Straight punches to the body of Ray. Patience was the name of the game for Ray as he picked his spots. Ray got in a nice 1-2 after an outside leg kick. Johnson kept targeting Ray's body with punches. He tried to jab his way through Ray's guard. Johnson connected with straight rights.
The frequency of strikes increased as both men exchanged leg kicks.
Round 2: Johnson increased the pace and pressed hard. He ate a leg kick and connected with a one-two. Johnson kept going for the jabs to the body and the face of Ray. Johnson could be setting up the overhand left with the rights to the body. Ray attempted a superman punch. Johnson with a leg kick. He followed it up with a three-piece but missed. Ray landed a solid straight left. Johnson connected with a left hook in the pocket.
Johnson got in a left leg kick. Ray changed levels but Johnson defended it well. Johnson tagged Ray with a few punches. He kept up the right jabs. Johnson went low to the body. Back to the jabs to the face. Leg kick right punch combo from Johnson. Johnson was landing the second and third strikes of his combinations. Ray answered with a low kick. Johnson landed wit a beautiful spinning kick. A cut opened up on Ray's face. The round came to a close with Ray trying to salvage something out of the round.
Round 3: Johnson wanted a big round and urged Ray to let his hands loose as they touched gloves. Johnson was highly technical with his combinations. Double jabs followed up with strikes from various angles from Johnson was what set both men apart. Johnson continued the body attacks.
Ray changed levels and took Johnson down. Ray unloaded with strikes from the side. Johnson covered up but was still in the fight. Ray got hold of Johnson's back and he attempted to put him in a rear-naked choke. Ray controlled Johnson well with the body triangle. He softened Johnson up with punches from the back. Ray didn't have enough room to stretch Johnson out as he had the cage behind him. Ray ditched the RNC, postured up and unleashed a barrage of massive strikes. Johnson covered up but the referee didn't end it as he was still defending. Ray put in the work and was awfully close from the getting the job done in the dying stages of the fight. He landed with some brutal elbows and hammer fists but Johnson somehow hung on until the final bell.
Result: Stevie Ray def. Michael Johnson via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)
Johnson was visibly frustrated with the official decision as he thought he had done enough to get the win. However, Ray's dominance in the third round may have given him the edge.
#5 Ben Askren vs. Demian Maia (Welterweight)
The main event of the evening was stylistically a very intriguing fight. One one side you had one of the greatest BJJ practitioners in UFC history - Demian Maia - who had a long history of choking people out. On the other side, you had Ben Askren, a highly proficient wrestler whose reputation was dented in his last fight against Jorge Masvidal.
This was unofficially a fight to decide the best grappler in the UFC!
Round 1: Maia came in using his hands. He fired in the straight lefts. Askren tried to close the distance and clinch with Maia. Askren got the clinch but Maia landed a few knees in the clinch.
They broke up but Askren worked for the clinch. Maia was inarguably the better striker as Askren looked lost while using his hands. Askren tried to changed levels or engage in the clinch.
Maia landed a few good combinations as Askren reached in for the clinch. Askren landed a few good uppercuts on the inside. A solid body kick from Maia. Askren attempted to take Maia down, but the Brazilian defended it from happening. Askren finally got Maia down and almost got caught in an armbar. Askren got his hand out and kept Maia down until the end of the round.
Round 2: Askren landed with a weird-looking body kick. The Funky One looked off the pace with his striking. They clinched again for a few seconds before breaking it up. Askren laned a big uppercut. Maia suffered a cut on his face.
Askren rushed in for a good combination. He tagged Maia with a nice right. Both men attempted wild uppercuts but missed. The fight surprisingly was still happening on the feet.
Askren changed levels and finally got Maia down. Maia trapped Askren's hand, got up, flipped over and landed in Askren's guard. That was smooth! Maia first looked for an Arm Triangle choke before going for the full mount. Maia the went for the RNC, before attempting a Kimura. Askren got his hand out again and neutralized Maia's threat on the mat by keeping him down until the end of the round.
Round 3: Askren locked in the underhooks and slammed Maia down to the mat. Askren landed a few strikes on the ground but Maia sprang right back up.
Askren opened up with his striking as he landed a body kick and a jab. He went for a spinning back fist but missed. A brief clinch happened again. They exchanged rights and lefts in the pocket
Askren clinched again. Good knees from Maia in the clinch. Askren got Maia down but the Brazilian used his BJJ to flip the position yet again, Maia effortlessly got Askren in the body triangle and worked towards a Read Naked Choke. He weathered Askren down, controlled his arms and seamlessly locked in his hands under Askren's neck.
He squeezed and Askren tapped out. However, the referee didn't see the single tap and had to stop the fight after Askren almost lost his consciousness.
Result: Demian Maia def. Ben Askren via submission (rear-naked choke) (3:54, Round 3)
BJJ wins it this time! It was a masterful display from Maia, who gave us another example of his slick skills as a submission specialist. As for Askren, we really feel he looks out of place inside the Octagon.
He probably came to the UFC a little too late, nonetheless, the Funky One has a few big decisions to make going forward.
