UFC Singapore video recap: Maia subs Ben Askren with RNC

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Demian Maia caused Ben Askren to lose consciousness in the third round of the UFC Singapore main event.

The UFC’s #10 welterweight, Demian Maia, submitted the #11 ranked Ben Askren with a constricting rear-naked choke in the third round of the UFC Singapore main event.

What was the high point of the fight?

Maia putting Askren to sleep was by far the best highest point of the fight. Duh! There was more striking going on across the first-two frames than anyone cared to see, but the catharsis came in the third round when Askren realized an early takedown and they started to grapple with some time on the clock. Maia used a leg lock attempt to sweep into top position, and then seamlessly transitioned to the back. Shortly after that, the RNC was applied and Askren was void of consciousness.

Where do these two go from here?

Maia recently signed a new contract with promotion and currently owns 22 UFC wins, only second to Donald Cerrone at 23. In his post-fight interview, he recommended that the UFC create a belt for the best grappler in MMA. He also used his mic time to respectfully call out Diego Sanchez, who has been calling out the BJJ guru for some time now. Whether or not that bout happens, the new deal guarantees that we’ll see Maia a few more time before he hangs up the gloves.

“Funky” Ben is in a bad spot. He’s been put to sleep in back to back bouts, and by both ends of the MMA spectrum. He definitely shouldn’t be getting anyone ranked higher than himself in his next outing, but hey... it’s MMA. Perhaps he’ll get one of the losers of upcoming UFC 244 matchups between Darren Till vs. Kelvin Gastelum and Stephen Thompson vs. Vicente Luque? The Robbie Lawler rematch is definitely one that the fans would love to see, even if Askren isn’t too keen on the idea.

Watch it now, later or never?

If you like watching Askren go to sleep, then watch it now. If you just wanted to see these two grapple it out, like most did, then skip the first nine-minutes of the fight and get straight to the gold.