WHEN UFC lands in Singapore for the fourth time on October 26th, a throwback style-vs-style bout is set to be a history-making main event.
Two legendary groundfighters in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) will meet to decide who is the best grappler: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia versus USA Olympic Team wrestler Ben Askren.
It is also a battle between the world's top-ranked fighters as #10 ranked Maia, a former two-time title contender, looks to become the first person ever to submit #11 ranked Askren inside the Octagon.
With an MMA record of 27-9 and 21 victories inside the Octagon, Maia holds the second-most wins in UFC history, behind former UFC Singapore headliner 'Cowboy' Donald Cerrone.
He has fought for the belt in two different divisions, at middleweight against Anderson Silva and at welterweight against Tyron Woodley.
Maia has a record streak of wins by submission, with victories over Jorge Masvidal, John Fitch and Chael Sonnen – another champion wrestler.
The 41-year-old is a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt who has won multiple world championships, including gold at the ADCC World Championships and South American Championships.
Askren's UFC debut was on the back of an undefeated MMA record, and he won a first-round submission over former welterweight champion, Robbie Lawler.
But his most recent bout was a loss to Jorge Masvidal in July via knockout from a flying knee strike, which brought his record to 19-1-1.
Despite that, submitting the former Bellator and ONE world champion will not be an easy task for Maia, as Askren is a formidable foe on the ground.
Askren was a two-time NCAA champion and a member of the 2008 United States Olympic freestyle wrestling team, and is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC.
Vowing to bounce back from his first career loss to Masvidal, the 35-year-old is eager to prove that he's the best and most dangerous grappler in the welterweight division.
Meanwhile, the co-main event will see a clash between two lightweights - Michael Johnson from the US and Scottish lad Stevie Ray.
Johnson, 33, is a season 12 finalist from The Ultimate Fighter - UFC's very own reality show – with a professional MMA record of 19 wins and 14 losses.
He is a former lightweight champion in two MMA promotions - Xtreme Cage Fighting and Midwest Fight League.
His opponent, Ray, is a former champion in BAMMA and Cage Warriors prior to joining the UFC, and owns a professional record of 22 wins and 9 losses.
For fans of striking, a welterweight clash is set between Muslim “King of Kung Fu” Salikhov and Argentina's hot prospect Laureano Staropoli.
Plus, Thailand's Loma Lookboonmee, the first ever athlete from Thailand signed to the UFC, makes her debut against Russia's Alexandra Albu.
UFC, the world's largest MMA promotion, is set to land in Singapore after ground-breaking shows across the world, such as UFC Shenzhen which crowned Asia's first UFC champion, Zhang Weili, and UFC Melboure which a record attendance of over 57,000.
UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Askren will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang on Saturday, October 26th.
It's the second of three events in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Sports Hub.
The preliminary card starts at 5pm Singapore time and the main card is scheduled at 8pm.
Tickets can be purchased through SportsHub and AirAsia RedTix.
Full fight card for UFC Fight Night 162:
Main card
Main event (welterweight bout) - Demian Maia vs Ben Askren
Co-main event (lightweight bout) - Michael Johnson vs Stevie Ray
Lightweight bout - Frank Camacho vs Beneil Dariush
Heavyweight bout - Ciryl Gane vs Don'Tale Mayes
Welterweight bout - Muslim Salikhov vs Laureano Staropoli
Preliminary card
Women strawweight bout - Randa Markos vs Ashley Yoder
Lightweight bout - Alex White vs Rafael Fiziev
Featherweight bout - Enrique Barzola vs Movsar Evloev
Heavyweight bout - Sergei Pavlovich vs Maurice Greene
Women strawweight bout - Loma Lookboonme vs Aleksandra Albu
Heavyweight bout - Raphael Pessoa vs Jeff Hughes
Haider Yutim
Mon Oct 21 2019
Demian Maia (left) will take on Ben Askren in the main event of UFC Fight Night 162 in Singapore, this October 26. - UFC pic
Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia harap individu disyaki pecah amanah didakwa segera
Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia (KRM) berharap individu di sebalik isu pecah amanah disyaki berlaku dalam pengendalian akaun bank badan induk itu didakwa segera.
PM adakan pertemuan dengan Presiden Rwanda
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengadakan pertemuan dua hala dengan Presiden Rwanda Paul Kagame di luar Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF) pada Ahad.
Iraq luluskan RUU anti-LGBTQ
PARLIMEN Iraq pada Sabtu meluluskan rang undang-undang (RUU) yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis.
Rumah terbuka Persatuan Komuniti Bugis Sabah meriah
Keunikan pakaian suku kaum Bugis dan kepelbagaian juadah menjadi tarikan utama rumah terbuka Persatuan Kaum Bugis Sabah.
Perayaan masa terbaik pupuk persaudaraan - Hajiji
Datul Seri Hajiji Noor menyifatkan perayaan yang ada di negara ini sebagai medan terbaik memupuk tali persaudaraan dalam kalangan rakyat pelbagai kaum dan agama.
Konsert jelajah terakhir Kitaro bakal tarik ramai pengunjung
Konsert jelajah Kitaro di Rainforest World Music Festival 2024 bakal jadi yang terakhir buat Kitaro yang memasuki usia 71 tahun, Februari lalu.
Abang Jo setuju cadangan syarat untuk pemohon PR di Sarawak
Dalam perkembangan lain Abang Johari bersetuju dengan cadangan untuk menetapkan syarat bagi komuniti peniaga dan pelabur yang mahu mendapatkan status Penduduk Tetap (PR) di Sarawak perlu memasukkan minimum dua juta ringgit ke dalam akaun deposit tetap negeri ataupun membeli hartanah bernilai 1.5 juta ke atas.
Kes denggi di Kedah membimbangkan, catat 1,550 kes pada ME16
Kes denggi di Kedah berada pada tahap membimbangkan apabila sejumlah 1,550 kes dilaporkan pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-16 tahun ini.
Kerajaan Sarawak tidak paksa penduduk pedalaman terima projek empangan Melata
Abang Johari berharap penduduk pedalaman Sarawak agar membuka minda dengan melihat kepada manfaat projek empangan melata yang penting bagi menghasilkan tenaga boleh diperbaharui di kawasan merfeka.
Sarawak akan jana tenaga hijau seratus peratus hijau
Premier Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg akan berbincang dengan SEB bagi membolehkan dua loji tenaga arang batu miliknya ditukar kepada loji bersumberkan biomass.
KO pusingan pertama, Jake Paul tumbangkan bekas petarung UFC Ben Askren
Jake Paul mengejutkan dunia sukan tempur apabila menewaskan bekas jaguh MMA, Ben Askren dalam perlawanan tinju, pada Ahad.
Bakal cabar Ben Asken, impian YouTuber Jake Paul lawan petarung UFC jadi kenyataan
YouTuber sensasi dari Amerika Syarikat, Jake Paul yang kini bergelar petinju profesional, dilaporkan bakal bertarung dengan bekas atlet UFC, Ben Askren pada April depan.
UFC Singapura: Ben Askren yakin dapat tumpaskan Demian Maia
UFC Fight Night 162 bakal menyaksikan pertembungan di antara bekas juara welterweight Bellator dan ONE, Ben Askren dengan jaguh jiu-jitsu dari Brazil, Demian Maia.
'Orang lain sibuk bekerja, bukan berlagak seperti orang mabuk' - McGregor ditegur Ben Askren
Petarung welterweight UFC, Ben Askren menyifatkan zaman kegemilangan Conor McGregor sudah pun berakhir.
Pertarungan Ben Askren vs Demian Maia membosankan? Ini reaksi Aksren
Bekas juara welterweight Bellator MMA dan ONE Championship, Ben Askren dilaporkan bakal bertarung dengan Demian Maia.
UFC San Antonio: Edwards berjaya lepasi cabaran RDA, mahukan Masvidal pula
Leon 'Rocky' Edwards berjaya menewaskan petarung berpengalaman dari Brazil, Rafael dos Anjos (RDA) dalam pertarungan bagi divisyen welterweight.
Selepas KO-kan Askren 5 saat, Masvidal kini mahukan McGregor
Tanpa berselindung, Masvidal ternyata mahukan pertarungan antara dirinya dan juga jaguh MMA dari Ireland, Conor McGregor menjadi kenyataan.
KO 5 saat: Petarung negara Jihin, Jordan Boy terkejut dengan kekalahan Ben Askren
Bekas juara welterweight ONE Championship, Ben Askren pada Ahad menerima kekalahan pertamanya sebagai petarung seni bela diri campuran (MMA) professional.
KO 5 saat: 'Lutut terbang' memang strategi Masvidal buat Askren
Nama Jorge Masvidal semakin disebut-sebut susulan kemenangannya ke atas Ben Askren melalui tendangan lututnya pada Ahad ketika acara UFC 239.
Pemenang menerusi 'knockout' ungguli senarai pemerima bonus di UFC 239
Seramai empat petarung dipilih bagi membawa pulang bonus 'Performance of the Night' bernilai AS$50,000 (RM206,796) setiap seorang.