UFC Fight Night 162 ‘Askren vs. Maia’ - Play By Play Updates & LIVE Results

Muslim Salikhov defeated Laureano Staropoli via Unanimous Decision

What a fantastic main card opener fight between welterweights Muslim Salikhov and Laureano Staropoli who’re both on back-to-back winning streaks. Salikhov having finished both his last two fights via knockouts enters the fight as a fan favourite while Staropoli took the decisions home. Salikhov opens up the first round with a spinning back kick, which he’s known for knocking out his opponents. Staropoli evades like a matador with his quick agility. He’s light on his feet, moving in and out of Salikhov’s range. But the pressure from ‘The King of Kung-Fu’ pushes him backwards as Salikhov charges ahead with his well timed strikes. Staropoli tries to throw a spinning wheel kick of his own but Salikhov is nowhere near the target. This time the Russian perfectly lands the spinning back kick right into Staropoli’s body. The first round is turning into a thrilling display of power spinning kicks but there’s more to come in the rounds ahead.

Salikhov continues to pressure Staropoli with his combinations and back him up to the cage. In a wild exchange, Salikhov lands a huge right uppercut just when Staropoli tries to duck and point his chin towards the canvas. Staropoli is hurt and Salikhov smells blood. He unleashes flurry of punches and kicks but the Argentinian is tough as nails. He survives as he circle away from the danger zone. As the final round opens up, Staropoli quickly takes the center of the cage to begin pressuring Salikhov. He’s behind the scorecard and displays a sense of urgency to quickly finish the fight by giving everything he has. But its too late for him to get ahead on the judge’s scorecard who unanimously score the win in the favour of Salikhov.

Someone needs to break Muslim Salikhov into Hong Kong action cinema. He'd be a great Benny Urquidez to some star's Jackie Chan. #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/uShQ7szoyE
— Kyle Johnson (@VonPreux) October 26, 2019

Salikhov pouring it on in round 2! #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/MwkoLrngwP
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

How is he still standing?!
Respect the striking of Muslim Salikhov! #UFCSingapore 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/F2g4jVD23X
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 26, 2019

Salikhov makes it 3️⃣ in a row!#UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/D8Z6OJ0YJW
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

Ciryl Gane defeated Don’Tale Mayes via Submission in Round 3

Heavyweights have entertained the card so far and this last heavyweight fight of the card is worthy to bring some more heavy leather action. Gane is a former kickboxing champion but has surprised everyone with his slick first round submission barely two months ago. Mayes on the other hand, won two of his appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series and looks to make a splash in the heavyweight division with a win.

Mayes quickly opens up with a teep to Gane’s midsection followed by a spinning backfist. Gane responds back with a a combination and head kick. From there on its just Gane and his leg kicks that keep on finding their target until a flying knee knocks Mayes down to the canvas. Gane follows up but the bell saves Mayes from the barrage of punches. Gane continues to punish Mayes in the second round with his teeps and body kicks. Mayes is hurt several times but refuses to go down. Minute by minute Mayes is sinking deep into abyss as Gane continues to push forward and punish him with his leg kicks which find their target with ease. Tired and exhausted against the cage, Mayes looks to survive the final round with his hand on the canvas trying to avoid any knees to the head. But Gane’s persistent follow up lands him the take down and secures a heel hook. With in seconds, Mayes taps out.

Gane becomes the first heavyweight to hit this submission in over ten years.

"Did you hear that?! Of course you heard that!"
Sound ⬆️ for THIS body kick #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/GURquJfQBA
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

Gane hammering the body!! #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/fmdYY7Jyje
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

A kickboxer?!@Ciryl_Gane gets his SECOND submission win in the Octagon! #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/14HVE3Regc
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

Ciryl Gane gets the submission win with 14 seconds left on the clock!
This big guy ain't here to play games 😏#UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/154MPM6qAu
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) October 26, 2019

Beneil Dariush defeated Frank Camacho via Submission in Round 1

Lightweight Frank Camacho made his UFC debut back in 2017 in the Singapore Stadium on a very short notice. Though he lost his debut fight, it earned him the fight of the night bonus. But since then, he has gone 2-2 inside the octagon and now looks to improve his record against a 15 fight UFC veteran Dariush. It’s a tough match up and any slight error could lead up to a disappointment. But Camacho is not someone who puts up boring fights. As the round opens, he presses forward to pressurize Dariush. They end up in a clinch and Dariush attacks the body and as they separate lands a thudding body kick that leads to a clean take down. Dariush sees opening and quickly spins to secure Camacho’s back. Within seconds he wraps up RNC with a body triangle locked in and forces Camacho to tap at 2:02 secs of the very first round.

Textbook 📚@BeneilDariush gets the takedown, puts his hooks in and sinks in the RNC! #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/FHCxrJNHHr
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

Steven Ray defeated Michael Johnson via Majority Decision

Both Stevie Ray and Micheal Johnson badly needed a win after their bitter losses earlier this year. Micheal Johnson was now making his return to the light weight division and facing a tough striker in Ray. Right from the first round it was all Johnson who made sure to land every punch and kick he could attempt. Ray tried to take him down but Johnson just stuffed him with his elite ground defense. Johnson began to land his jab a bit more in the second round while his left cross did most of the damage to Ray’s face. Ray was denied of any take down and he only continued to eat more punches from Johnson. With a clean sweep in the second, Johnson was ahead of the scorecard. Ray realized he needed to turn the fight around and shifted the momentum in his favour. He finally got the fight to the ground and kept Johnson there for most of the time.With the final round in his favour, the judges score the fight for Ray who is now back into the win column.

Agree?
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @StevenRayMMA gets the majority decision win at #UFCSingapore pic.twitter.com/cuoEgPH3ri
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2019

Demian Maia defeated Ben Askren via Submission in Round 3

Demian Maia made history by becoming the second fighter to have the most UFC wins (22) and second most submission wins (11) in the UFC after he chocked out Ben Askren in the main event. Ben Askren was coming off a huge loss against Masvidal and needed a much sought after win in this grappler’s contest. The first round was all about stand up exchanges between Maia and Askren. Maia put on a striking display in the first round until he as taken down by Askren. In the second Askren began to let loose his hands and began tagging Maia with short Diaz’esque pepper shots that eventually opened up cut on Maia. Askren scored another takedown late in the round but Maia quickly reversed it and forced Askren to scramble back to feet. With the third round now in the books, Maia appeared to slow down, while Askren’s confidence began to grow. But Askren’s takedown costed him a big deal as Maia once again swept him and attempted a heel hook. Maia then proceeded to take three-quarter mount, forcing Askren to give up his back. Once he was in a dominant back position, Maia just wrapped up a RNC and forced Askren to tap who appeared to have been choked for a moment.