Demian Maia and Ben Askren delivered an entertaining fight in the main event of UFC Singapore, much to the delight of mixed martial arts fans.
Headlining the UFC Fight Night 162, both welterweights were looking for a big win in a bid to return to title contention.
The Brazilian fighter is enjoying a two-fight winning streak while Askren is coming off a devastating loss to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239.
Going down as the fastest finish in the UFC, Askren was knocked out by Masvidal just five seconds into the opening round of their welterweight clash last July.
Aiming for redemption, the former Bellator and ONE Championship standout was confident that he will score a bounce-back win.
But Maia had other plans.
Fighting off Askren’s wrestling with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Maia was able to get the submission in the third round, following an entertaining clash in the ground in the first two rounds.
Check out some of the craziest reactions from the Twitter-verse on Maia and Askren’s epic grappling match:
The grappling is really good for real here tho. 👏👏👍 #UFCSingapore
— Uncle Kenny (@KennyKruger1) October 26, 2019
For two people that are super ass on their feet they are like Mozart on the ground. #UFCSingapore
— Keith Olton (@blackghost73) October 26, 2019
Heck of a scrambling transition at the end of the 2nd round.
That’s the fight we were hoping for.#DemianVSAskren#UFCSingapore
— Luminus O. Alabi (@luminus) October 26, 2019
Well, that was some fun grappling. WE WANT MORE OF THAT. Stop striking already shesh #UFCSingapore
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) October 26, 2019
I mean this was so unexpected, but some good grappling there #UFCSingapore
— Winter (@inkingChaos) October 26, 2019
We are getting glimpses of amazing grappling but like, the striking 😂😂😂#UFCSingapore
— Dawudi (@ThatMixedOtaku) October 26, 2019
Can they just start round 3 on the ground? I could watch these guys grapple all day. #UFCSingapore
— Nick García (@N_A_Garcia) October 26, 2019
Grappler + Grappler = playground boxing match.#UFCSingapore
— Tango Hotel Charlie (@StreetVillain) October 26, 2019
#UFCSingapore this @Benaskren vs Maia fight is so interesting. At any point it could end, no one seems to have the advantage in any area. I love it! @ufc @KarynBryant @arielhelwani
— CadeTheBigShow (@Cade_Huninghake) October 26, 2019
Ben Askren may have lost again but he’s still super legit and one is an elite MMA wrestler. This notion that he’s a bum who is good for nothing is one of the silliest things that can be said. #UFCSingapore
— Micah (@TheMicahOrtiz) October 26, 2019
The Grappling God, Demian Maia, finishes Askren with a rear naked choke, pretty cool stuff, I’m happy for Maia. #UFCSingapore
— ㊣ Eddie Balderrama ㊣🇲🇽 (@EddieBeast50) October 26, 2019
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Ben Askren and Demian Maia)