Demian Maia vs Ben Askren - FULL FIGHT

The greatest striking match of this decade

Elementary lvl striking and world class ground game

Very underrated fight. Maia’s use of submissions to advance position is a beautiful thing to watch

The grappling exchanges were awesome though, world class reversals

The first and only time Maia has probably ever outstriked someone.

I cant help but root for Askren, man went 19-2 with next to no striking game, just pure wrestling which is a gigachad move if you ask me.

Easily one of the best mma grappling matches, The grappling exchanges were very competitive and entertaining, Ben is the only guy I have seen that wasn't afraid to fight Maia on the ground, Askren excellently took Maia down 4 times, Maia's sweeps to reverse the position were awesome, the way Ben scrambled out of bottom position, getting the side control vs a grapplier like a Maia shows how elite Ben's ground game is, he also landed some good punches, Askren had heavy hands for sure, he only lacked technique and speed behind those strikes

I’m not even trying to be a jerk or a keyboard tough guy. He’s an incredible grappler but it is actually insane how far Ben got in mma without ever developing even competent striking. Even Maia has a pretty solid straight left and basic boxing skills.

Those grappling match probably really entertaining Always like to see elite wrestler and Elite BJJ fighter using their original skills at each other instead of play safe and went full striking

Demian Maia was so deadly on the ground, i look away for a split second the dude is already attempting some submission and Ben’s adorable kindergarten helicopter punches looked like some drunk dude trying to fight someone.

omg that spinning back fist from Ben lmao im not even trying to make fun of him. Truth be told, hes a beast. Nobody else will ever be that bad at striking and make it as far as Ben did

that submission was so tight it straightened ben's curly hair.

This fight is an absolute diamond in the rough....

LEGEND!!! The teacher giving lessons to the kid 🤣🤣🤣 well done Damian Maia 👊🏻👍🏻🤛🏻 RESPECT

14:55 "By the way these are two grapplers guys." Yeah, I would've believed that at first sight!😂

Ben askren with technical striking would be fucking terrifying. dude had power.

I had forgotten about this fight…love the BJJ and grappling

striking masterclass

Maia is one of my all time favorites of bjj🤙🏽💪🏽👏🏽

Such an underrated fight!

it took me a while to gain appreciation for this match. I was too overwhelmed with the standing fight memeing, but it's quite a treat all in all. Askren really delivered as a entertainer in all three matches he had.

What a war. Would like to see a best-of-3 between these two. i.e. Ben making necessary adjustments. Loved all of Ben's fights.

Ben Askren often boasted an undefeated streak at this level of hitting.

Was on the wrestling team with Ben back in high school, known him for a bit, one thing he doesn't get credit for, he practically invented "trolling" way before twitter and social media, we're talking 1998, he would talk sh!t via carrier pigeon. We would go to tournaments every Saturday and he would search the gymnasium for his opponents. Then would tell them exactly what he was going to do. Then he would do it, as promised. It was hilarious! They new what was coming, but still couldn't stop it. He went 152-8 in college, undefeated and welter weight champion in both Bellator & One championship (China's version of UFC). Went to the Olympics in 2008, won so many things I can't even list them it would take an hour. Just Wiki his record, it's insane. People who talk trash about his abilities know nothing of his accomplishments and his skill level. Just because his boxing isn't world class, he would still box the sh!t out of any of us, (I went to Duke Roufus's kick boxing gym with Ben though we never boxed since he was in camp training one on one with Duke himself.) He was out striking Maia.

Amazing fight. I knew Demian was a great fighter but never watched Askren cuz old fans make fun of him. They shouldn't make fun of him. How technical was this fight ❤

Actually one of my favorite fights and one of the best crowds ever 😅🔥

It's impressive that the way he grips the neck is fast even on slow motion.

I honestly enjoyed this more than most striking heavy match ups. Incredible chain wrestling, sweeps, throws and all round grappling prowess

I remember at the start of his career Maia use to lift his back leg when he punched which took all the power out but he improved in every way so much

Thanks for the upload mate.

Ben’s signature one punch and “grab” is very inspiring and shows how legacy’s are made.

good fight by both to be fair. those transitions from both were great!!

What a master class. Absolute striking clinic!

Great upload, I do like watching Askrens 'striking' for the laugh.

Ben had a lot of potential.

Great fans. Ufc fans know the fight game. They know the technique

Ben askren flows like water, hands down the smoothest, cleanest striking I have ever seen in my life. He effortlessly blends all forms of striking, karate, tkd, muey Thai, shotokan, Dutch kickboxing, boxing, wing chun etc into a smoothie of violence

Grappling exchanges- Rd. 1 6:55 - 7:55 (first TD by BA + arm lock submission attempt by DM; BA escapes submission attempt) Rd. 2 12:43 - 14:02 (second TD by BA + triangle choke attempt by DM which transitions to omoplata attempt by DM which ends up with DM in mount. Ensuing scramble and Kimura attempt by DM; BA escapes all submission attempts) Rd. 3 16:00 - 16:31 (Third TD by BA. Minor grappling exchange). + 17:59 - 19:03 (Fourth TD by BA with a foot lock attempt by DM which transitions into mount, then back-take, then RNC finish by DM)

And here....... the backfist of doom was born...

And people say adesanya is the best striker, take note ladies and gentleman this is perfection

People really thought this man would knock out Jake Paul......must of forgotten he hands down is the worst striker to ever enter UFC

elite level striking on display in this fight all we need next is ben askren vs juliana pena

The striking on this fight is on a different level then anything else I’ve seen, when Askren threw that back hand I remember the whole crowd going crazy, if the spinning back hand of death landed it was over. This is why Askren is the undefeated undisputed heavyweight champion

Wow Asken made a big mistake taking it to the ground. Suddenly Maia showed how superior he was at groundwork. Asken looked like a blue belt vs Maia the black belt.

Actually a great fight as far as ground game.👏

Ironically a very good match

Spinning back fist of Doom still cracks me up

Striking masterclass on both ends!

Awesome grappling exchanges man. So cool to see funk stlye wrestling at the highest level, Olympic. Vs Damien Maia who was at the high level of BJJ. Amazing

Honestly this was the first fight in the org I wanted for Askren. Don't put him against strikers give him one of the many great grapplers and prove how good his wrestling is.

Song?

I actually really enjoyed this fight. The grappling transitions were amazing. Stupid fight for askren to take though in my opinion - there was no path to victory here.

Ben is a male version of Ronda Rousey

when it's a striker vs grappler match up it can be boring at most times specially when the grappler always goes for takedowns and holds the other person down or against the cage with not a lot going on, but when it's elite grappler vs grappler it can be a real treat like this and also the colby vs usman fight, except I really like Maia.

I know being a good striker is very difficult but Jesus Christ it looks like Ben he's never thrown a punch I've literally seen kids at school who have way better hands lol

I’m here for the standup war ❤

Wow just rewatched this and it was much better than I remember! World class grappling and pretty even. Then you can see the moment Ben gets tired in the 3rd round. It was all over. That’s when the fear kicks in and you start looking for a way out. You can see the wheels spinning behind his eyes as his bulbous, gelatinous body starts to fail despite his best efforts. Those are dark thoughts my friends. Dark thoughts.

superb grappling

best fight ever

Thank you brother

12:27 😂😂😂😂 cute swing Benjamin

This was great to see again-- a really good fight. And it helped me remember how unfair a lot of people have been to Askren over the years. Yes he's a pain in the ass and a joker to try and get n the roster for a DECADE before this, but compare that to the BS tha Colby and others dish out every day, attacking family and saying stupid things. Maia still looked great at 41 years of age, and you could see even after being a BJJ elite after most of his life studying it, Askren actually did amazing as "just a wrestler" who dipped into JJ a whole back and worked his own style with both... and before he made that mistake (in the interview he was a pro about it, smiling and saying he knew it screwed up trying that action while being that tired LOL...) and got choked. Too bad Maia didn't have even more fights before his 40's, and too bad Askren didn't get into MMA before he already beat his body up in wrestling all those years. By the time this fight took place, Askren already needed that hip replacement-- by the time he was in with Masvidal, it was criminally too late. We saw how much Masvidal had trouble with Maia; imagine a healthy Askren that simply moved his head a little like years before. All it would have taken was a couple inches either way-- Askren took glancing flying knees and huge shots before. This fight took place WAAAAYYYY to late, but it was still great and educational. Kinda went exactly as it should have, but if healthier and younger maybe crazier. Maia of course the expert and pinnacle in finishing with grappling, Askren the expert in getting it there and transitions on the ground... so all either needed would be more time in MMA at a younger age. Both would have been somewhat unstoppable.

I'm very happy and glad that Asrken left MMA. I totally couldn't stand his style, he had no stand-up, but yet it was effective enough then for him to get a takendown and his wrestling was great, but Jorge's knee humbled and already damaged body, and Maia put the nails in

Askren makes Maia look like Floyd Mayweather

I remember hopping on the Askren train. It was a short trip.

This is crazy high level O.o

Damien is like let me just put these last few nails in Is The Old coffin here

@ 14:02 "so you get balls and throat see? Balls and throat" - Josh Fabia sorcerer and coach supreme.

The nut grab at 3:41 was superior technique

I’m shocked Askren ever lost a fight. He’s a world class wrestler who looks like Mike Tyson when he lets the hands go.

Maia being the underdog makes no fckin sense. Askren would go down standing or even Quicker on the Ground. The guy exchanged punches with Anderson Silva and had the submission record of UFC by that time.

Maia's transitions are a joy to watch..passed askren like butter. The skill level is out of this world.

Never go to the ground with a BJJ world champion. …. Doesn’t matter if he is 42 ….

Ben askern can make any pro fight get lazy with his unpredictable moves 😂😂😂

Great crowd

Great fight!

45 seconds left in round 1. Best take down ever.

Great fight

asscreme's punch seem deadly like shotgun blows when they land

This was a good fight

That’s why Woodley, Usman & Colby didn’t wrestle Maia, they didn’t want to get subbed like Ben taking it to ground 😂

And both of these guys were out of their prime in this fight. Ben looked way better in other organizations.

Great fight !!!

holy ish man (Demian Maia) exists 😧🆘💫 no fighting, please no illegal fighting promotions please win

After watching this I’m just amazed at how much success Ben in MMA

ben askren has always been my favorite and got me into mma he gets a lot of heat but hes one of the goats

I reckon Ben Askren is one of those fighters that came into UFC a bit too late in their careers...what ya think?

Guys you might call me delusional but after watching this I don’t mind my chances against Ben 🤷‍♂️🤪

I can’t believe Ben submitted Ruthless Robbie. 👀

Askren has 0 ground game. Completely exposed.

Surely they could have invested a little bit more on their striking during the career...I mean how many years Damien fought MMA for? 10? 10 years training and that's you striking level? Wow

Askren called out GSP saying he's better . Askren was fighting cats and GSP was top dog of all food chains . Askren wasn't stupid not coming to fight in the ufc . He wasn't good enough to get a fight with GSP. Askren's career would have been over real quick . Maia didn't get to fight GSP and Anderson silva played with Maia for 5 rounds because Maia couldn't take Silva down .

Yeah yeah, "Level change", got it!

360p resolution…. Can’t watch

I never understand is why Ben Askren never intended to be be more athletic I get his point technique matters more but he could be a way stronger if decided to be more athletic.

Ben is lucky they did not give him that title shot, Marty would've easily smashed his jaw in

These two are just designed to clash heads awkward southpaw vs awkward Orthodox lol

Askrens striking incompetence is aggravating.

Commenting for KZhead algorithms2

We got ben way past his prime