The Ultimate Fighting Championship came to Maracanãzinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil tonight for UFC Fight Night 62: “Maia vs LaFlare.” The event was headlined by a welterweight bout between Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Demian Maia and unbeaten American prospect Ryan LaFlare.
In tonight’s 170-pound co-feature, Erick “Índio” Silva took on short-notice replacement opponent Josh Koscheck. Leonardo Santos faced Tony Martin at lightweight and Amanda “Lioness” Nunes battled Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler at 135. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the card.
Demian Maia vs Ryan LaFlare
Round 1:
Maia scored a takedown into LaFlare’s half-guard in the opening 90 seconds of the fight. He moved to mount soon after and looked to set up a submission from the top. Maia postured up and dropped punches, but LaFlare used the opportunity to scramble and regain half-guard. Maia stayed on top and he landed short punches until the end of the round. 10-9 Maia.
Round 2:
LaFlare kicked at Maia’s lead leg in round two and sprawled out of a Maia takedown attempt. Punches were exchanged and Maia got LaFlare down into half-guard. He attempted a kimura and LaFlare kicked him off. Maia dropped down into LaFlare’s half-guard again and effortlessly passed to mount within seconds. He set up an arm-triangle choke, but LaFlare escaped. Maia finished the round with punches from mount. 10-9 Maia.
Round 3:
LaFlare came up short with his punches in round three and Maia landed a quick one-two. He was unable to take LaFlare down and resorted to pulling guard. Maia reversed position by attacking LaFlare’s leg with a calf slicer and he mounted LaFlare soon after. LaFlare pushed off of the cage and Maia mounted him again. LaFlare scrambled and the fighters exchanged strikes on the mat until the bell. 10-9 Maia.
Round 4:
Maia landed a right-left combo and he avoided LaFlare’s counters in round four. He secured a rear waist lock and dragged LaFlare down to the mat. Maia mounted LaFlare and scored with some solid punches from the top. He tried to set up an arm-triangle choke, but LaFlare held on and he eventually broke free from the hold just before time expired. 10-9 Maia.
Round 5:
LaFlare backed Maia up with a combination in round five and he avoided a takedown attempt seconds later. Maia tried to pull guard and failed to get LaFlare down to the mat. Maia shot in and pulled half-guard, but LaFlare stood up again. He pressed the action with punches and leg kicks, and reversed a Maia takedown. LaFlare immediately stood and landed a big knee.
An exhausted Maia continued to try to pull guard and LaFlare punished him with hammerfists. He followed with punch-kick combos on the feet until Maia cracked him with a right cross. He finally got LaFlare down and moved to North-South position. LaFlare scrambled and Maia briefly held mount. LaFlare escaped to his feet and the Maia flopped to his back. He was docked one point for flopping at the bell. 9-9.
Winner: Demian Maia by Unanimous Decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) after five rounds. He improves to 20-6-0.
Erick “Índio” Silva vs Josh Koscheck
Round 1:
The fighters clinched after an early striking exchange and Koscheck landed a nice standing elbow. He missed with a haymaker right hand and Silva kicked to the body. He knocked Koscheck down with a counter hook as Koscheck threw a body kick. Silva struck from the top until Koscheck scrambled up to his feet and connected with two right hands. Silva wobbled him with a left cross, but Koscheck recovered quickly. He slipped while throwing a punch and Silva hurt him with another combination. Silva pulled guard with a guillotine choke and Koscheck tapped out.
Winner: Erick Silva by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:21 of round one. He improves to 18-5-0, 1 NC.
Leonardo Santos vs Tony Martin
Round 1:
Santos landed leg kicks and quick one-twos early on. Martin initiated a clinch and worked for a takedown, which he eventually got. Santos battled back to his feet and the fighters were separated after a lull in the action. Martin scored with an overhand right and two leg kicks. He stuffed a takedown and held Santos against the fence. Close and uneventful round. 10-9 Martin.
Round 2:
Santos kicked at Martin’s leg and cracked him with a winging right hook in the second round. He threw Martin to the mat and transitioned to back control soon after. Santos locked on a body triangle and sunk in a rear-naked choke that forced Martin to submit.
Winner: Leonardo Santos by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:29 of round two. He improves to 14-3-1.
Amanda “Lioness” Nunes vs Shayna “The Queen of Spades” Baszler
Round 1:
Nunes kicked at Baszler’s lead leg in the opening seconds of the fight and she followed with an overhand right. A hard body kick and one-two backed Baszler up, and Nunes pulled her leg free from a Baszler takedown attempt. Nunes dropped Baszler with a brutal kick to the outside of her left knee and followed with punches as referee Mario Yamasaki pulled her off of a downed Baszler.
Winner: Amanda Nunes by TKO (Leg Kick & Punches) at 1:56 of round one. She improves to 10-4-0.
Gilbert “Durinho” Burns vs Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira
Round 1:
Oliveira opened the action with an uppercut and Burns countered with a knee and a takedown. The fighters stood and clinched until Oliveira broke free with a combination. He rocked Burns with a right hand and continued to score with punches. Burns finally landed a right hook of his own, but Oliveira landed another flurry before the bell. 10-9 Oliveira.
Round 2:
Oliveira caught a kick and countered with two right hooks in the second round. Burns clinched and scored another brief takedown, but Oliveira quickly returned to his feet and he connected with more right uppercuts. Burns threw leg kicks, but his left eye continued to swell up from damage incurred by Oliveira’s punches. The round ended with Oliveira landing short knees and shoulder strikes in the clinch. 10-9 Oliveira.
Round 3:
Burns took Oliveira down and mounted him early in round three. Oliveira initiated a scramble, but Burns trapped him in an omoplata. Oliveira could not break free from the hold and Burns landed right hands. He moved back to mount again and tried to swet up a triangle choke. Burns switched to an armbar and rolled through. Oliveira had nowhere to go and tapped out, giving Burns a big comeback victory.
Winner: Gilbert Burns by Submission (Armbar) at 4:14 of round three. He improves to 10-0-0.
Godofredo “Pepey” Castro vs Andre “Touchy” Fili
Round 1:
After an early exchange of kicks, Castro briefly took Fili down near the cage, but Fili returned to his feet and the fighters clinched. Castro jumped into a flying triangle choke and tightened it as the fight hit the mat again. Fili fought the choke for quite some time and he tried to stand up to escape, but Castro pulled his head down until Fili was finally forced to tap.
Winner: Godofredo Castro by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:14 of round one. He improves to 12-3-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo defeated Akbarh “El Caballero” Arreola by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 16-4-0 with the win.
– Edimilson “Kevin” Souza defeated Katsunori Kikuno by KO (Punch) at 1:31 of round one. He improves to 16-3-0 with the win.
– Leandro “Buscape” Silva defeated Drew Dober by Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 2:45 of round two. He improves to 18-2-1 with the win, which came as a result of a botched referee stoppage.
– Leonardo “Maccarão” Mafra Texeira defeated Cain “The Insane” Carrizosa by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 12-2-0 with the win.
– Christos “The Spartan” Giagos defeated Jorge Antonio “Blade” Cezario de Oliveira by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:12 of round one. He improves to 11-3-0 with the win.
– Fredy “El Profe” Serrano defeated Bentley “Dr. Bolivia” Syler by KO (Punch) at 1:34 of round three. He improves to 2-0-0 with the win.