UFC Chile recap: Usman beats Maia in anti-climactic decision

While it may have been a very slow-paced and predictable fight, Kamaru Usman ended up victorious against Demian Maia.

When Santiago Ponzinibbio was forced out of UFC Chile due to an injury, Kamaru Usman almost did not have an opponent to fight. However, the “most-avoided fighter in UFC history” did get to keep his main event slot when 40-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia decided to step in with a little over three weeks’ notice.

What was the high point of the fight?

As expected, Maia’s primary goal was to get to clinch range and shoot for a takedown and bring the fight to the mat. But from attempt number one all the way to the final bell, Usman was there to stuff each and every one of them, whether fighting through the Whizzer or simply nullifying them with an effective underhook game.

The story was exactly the same through rounds two, three, four and five, with Maia attempting futile takedowns and Usman stuffing them. One takeaway, however, was that Usman apparently broke both of his hands as he claimed during the post-fight interview with Jimmy Smith, but was able to nonetheless cancel out Maia’s game throughout the fight.

Where do these two go from here?

Maia may have done well against veterans such as Matt Brown and Carlos Condit, but with his performances as of late, it is unlikely for him to be any trouble for the newer generation of fighters. He is now on his third straight loss, and at his age, it would be more practical for him to consider preserving his health rather than chasing a world title.

With a win against a top-five opponent like Maia, Usman’s stock value is expected to rise after this fight. However, he may have to take a couple more fights and win them impressively to get a shot at the UFC welterweight title.

Personally, I would like to see him fight Colby Covington, regardless of UFC 225’s outcome. The seeds have been planted when the two were bickering at each other at the UFC 25^th Anniversary presser last April, and it would be interesting to see how these two collegiate wrestlers would fare against each other inside the Octagon.

Watch it now, later, or never?

It was a rather slow-paced five-rounder that was predictable, at least from the second round onwards. This fight can be saved for later.