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Watch the grappling exchanges between Maia and Askren get broken down by Rener Gracie.
The match up between Demian Maia and Ben Askren has been a grappler’s dream fight, and it did deliver. After lengthy exchanges on the feet, Askren scored some takedowns, but Maia managed to show his superior grappling prowess. The former BJJ world champion threatened with multiple submission attempts and used it to sweep and get position, before eventually ending up with a slick rear naked choke that put the talented wrestler out.
Related: UFC Singapore: Maia vs Askren post-fight results and analysis
On the clip above, Rener Gracie breaks down all the grappling involved in the UFC Singapore main event. He believes that Askren initially “fought a perfect fight” by deciding to strike for majority of the round, before using takedowns to try and score points and wear Maia out with a minute left in the stanza.
Gracie says that the third round cost Askren, as he went for an ill advised takedown with a lot of time remaining on the clock, allowing Maia to capitalize and get a submission.
He also details how Maia had a pretty unique set up for the fight ending rear naked choke. Watch it all on the video embedded above.