UFC 194 results: Demian Maia dominates Gunnar Nelson, calls for welterweight title shot

Demian Maia

LAS VEGAS – The welterweight bout between grappling wizards Demian Maia and Gunnar Nelson was supposed to be a high-level jiu-jitsu fight. It was, but that doesn’t mean it was competitive.

Maia (22-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) dominated Nelson (14-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) for a unanimous decision sweep of the judges’ scorecards Saturday night.

The welterweight bout was part of the main card of today’s UFC 194 event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Maia shot right away, closing the distance in a hurry. But seconds later, it was Nelson who wound up on top after a scramble. But Maia popped back to his feet. They stayed tied up, and Nelson worked for a guillotine choke. Again, they scrambled back up, then fell back to the canvas with Nelson on top again. Maia stayed glued to a single leg, then took Nelson’s back when the fight moved to the feet.

Nelson rolled out, but it was Maia who stayed with the position and got to full mount. Maia dropped punches down, and Nelson again found himself mounted. Nelson bucked out, but Maia held the spot and took the back. Maia locked up a tight body triangle that kept Nelson in trouble. He bloodied Nelson up with punches, still hoping for a choke finish. With 20 seconds left, Maia switched to an armbar, but Nelson rolled out of it and finished the round on top.

In the second, Maia went right back to being sticky on Nelson. As Nelson continued to grab the fence in defense, Maia took the back again to look for a rear-naked choke. Midway through the round, Maia kept working short punches to Nelson’s face, and with a body triangle again locked up, Nelson had to cover up to work his way out of it. But again, Nelson scrambled to get on top.

It didn’t last long before Maia reversed to get back on top again. With 40 seconds left, Maia dropped hard elbows down on Nelson’s face. Maia finished a dominant second round on top in full mount.

Maia needed a big rally in the third, but Maia made sure he never got that started.

“I want to fight the winner of Carlos Condit and Robbie Lawler for the title,” Maia said afterward. “I truly believe that I’m the best in the world, and I want to have my chance.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC 194 results include:

• Demian Maia def. Gunnar Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Max Holloway def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Urijah Faber def. Frankie Saenz via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Tecia Torres def. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Warlley Alves def. Colby Covington via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:26
• Leonardo Santos def. Kevin Lee via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:26
• Magomed Mustafaev def. Joe Proctor via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:54
• Yancy Medeiros def. John Makdessi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Court McGee def. Marcio Alexandre Jr. vs. via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

For complete coverage of UFC 194, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Steven Marrocco contributed to this report on site in Las Vegas.)