UFC Chile live blog: Demian Maia vs. Kamaru Usman

This is the UFC Chile live blog for Demian Maia vs. Kamaru Usman, a welterweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile.

Maia, who took the fight on short notice to replace Santiago Ponzinibbio, is on a two-fight skid and hold a professional MMA record of 25-8. Meanwhile, Usman is 7-0 in the UFC and sports a pro MMA record of 12-1.

Check out the UFC Chile Demian Maia vs. Kamaru Usman live blog below:

Round 1: No glove touch here. Usman kicks thing off literary, attakcing Maia’s legs with kicks. Several low kicks land for Usman. Maia connects a couple of times with a straight left. And Maia shoots for a takedown and almost gets it. Usamn was down for a second but was alble to get back up. He’s now pinned against the cage. Maia now takes the back against the cage, but Usman stopping him to fully get back control with a whizzer. They’re battling in that position. Still in the same position. One minute left. The referee orders them to stop and resumes the fight in the center of the Octagon. Maia with another straight left. The bell rings, good round for the Brazilian.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Maia.

Round 2: And round two is under way. Momentum going for Maia. The Brazilian shoots for a takedown but Usman stops it. Usman now holding Maia in the front head lock position. Maia unable to get out. They’re back on the feet. Usman with a nice right hand. Maia shoots for a takedown but Usman defends perfectly. Usman doing the pressuring here. Two minuets left. Not much going on the feet. Usman feeling a lot more comfortable on the feet, using his jab quite well. Usman now pressures Maia against the cage. Maia attempts a flying triangle but fails, ends with Usman on top. And the bell rings.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usman. Overall 19-19.

Round 3: Like the second round, Usman starts off pressuring Maia. Both fighters landing evenly, but none are landing anything significant. The Brazilian is using his straight left very effectively. Usman doing most of the pressuing here, walking down Maia. Nice leg kick by Usman drops Maia. Maia chilling on his back, while Usman punches his leg. The referee stand the fight up. The bell rings with Maia on the canvas.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usman. Overall 29-28, Usman.

Round 4: And Usman drops Maia right off the bat with a solid straight right hand. Usman rushes Maia and looks to land ground and pound. Maia does a good job surving and the fight is back on the feet. Usman looking very dominant. Not much landing for both guys. Maia is vut and bleeding out of his left eye. Two minutes left. Usman with another right hand. The Brazilian shoots for a single but fails. The fight is back on the feet. Maia backing up a lot, looking to avoid exchanges with Usman. The bell rings.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usman. Overall 39-37, Usman.

Round 5: Maia will likely need a finish here. Once again, Usman walking down Maia. The former title challenger shoots for a takedown again and gets easily stuffed by Usman. Maia looks tired. Good left by Maia. Another takedown attempt by Maia, Usman stuffs it. Now Usman moves to a north-south position. Maia has Usman in some type of lock but doesn’t seem to be threatening. Usman gets up and the fight starts again on the feet. Maia with another shot, but this time he pulls half guard. Usman gets up and Maia invites him to the ground. Usman is not having it and the referee orders Maia to get up. One minute left. Usman walking down Maia. A big right hand lands for Usman that connects clean on Maia. The bell rings.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Usman. Overall 49-46, Usman.

Official decision: Kamaru Usman defeats Demian Maia via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)