Maia defeats Condit early by submission in Vancouver
VANCOUVER — Demian Maia backed up his calls for a welterweight title shot with an early submission win over Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Saturday.
Maia, ranked third in the division, stated earlier this week that, with a victory over Condit, he should be in line for a title fight. And, at 38, he may get his wish later in the year after forcing Condit to tap out at 3:08 of the opening round — a sudden conclusion to the fourth Ultimate Fighting Championship stop in Vancouver in six years.
Maia made quick work of the fight, which was scheduled for five rounds. He broke down in tears in the middle of the octagon when it was over. Now he will await word on when a potential title fight could take place.
Tyron Woodley currently holds the welterweight championship.
Saturday’s fight card featured 10 events, including four on the main card.
Charles Oliveira, through a translator, predicted earlier this week following a training session that his hand would be raised in victory over Anthony Pettis, who entered their featherweight bout with three losses in a row. Instead, Oliveira used his hand to tap out in a loss to Pettis in the third round.
After dropping down from the lightweight division (155 pounds) to the featherweight division (145 pounds), Pettis avoided possible submission at least three times against Oliveira as their fight continued. Pettis, who flirted with a knockout win in the first round, was able to roll Oliveira into a guillotine choke, forcing his opponent to end the fight at 3:11 of the third round.
“I hit him with some big stuff in the first round and he was able to recover,” said Pettis.
After taking time away from the Octagon to appear on Dancing with the Stars, Paige VanZant returned to UFC with a second-round knockout over Australia’s Bec Rawlings.
Jim Miller opened the main card with a split-decision victory over Joe Lauzon in the highly anticipated rematch between the two lightweight combatants following their bloody, gruesome fight from UFC 155 four years ago.
Jeremy Kennedy of Surrey, B.C., was victorious in his UFC debut, earning the win by unanimous decision over Alessandro Ricci of Woodbridge, Ont., in a lightweight fight.