Maia chokes out Condit in 1st round of UFC Vancouver main event

The backpack attack is real.

Demian Maia submitted Carlos Condit via rear-naked choke in the first round of their main event bout at UFC on FOX 21 in Vancouver on Saturday. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu master wasted little time taking the lanky Condit to the ground, sinking in the choke in under two minutes of a textbook welterweight style clash.

Never one to tailor his game plan to an opponent, Maia did what he's done to nearly everyone he's faced since moving down to the 170-pound division, handing Condit his first defeat by submission in 10 years. The Brazilian knew better than to stand and trade blows with a brilliant striker in Condit, sticking to his world-class grappling to take the back of "The Natural Born Killer" and secure his sixth straight victory.

The third-ranked Maia expected a win would make him a challenger-in-waiting for Tyron Woodley's division crown, telling commentator Brian Stann post-fight he was willing to do just that, as Woodley is expected, yet unconfirmed, to make his first defense against No. 1 contender Stephen Thompson.

The victory brings Maia not only one step closer to a title shot, but to several UFC records. He's now tied for third all time with 18 wins in the promotion, behind Georges Saint-Pierre and Michael Bisping, who boast 19 apiece. His nine-submission victories are also good for second all time, one removed from fellow jiu-jitsu virtuoso Royce Gracie.

Originally scheduled for the main card at UFC 202, Maia and Condit were instead moved a week back to Saturday's main event. The shift to a five-round fight was presumed to favor Condit, who's been known to steal victories in the later rounds. Maia's edge in size and strength kept the fight from getting there.

Always gracious in defeat, his second straight, Condit was complimentary of Maia, but wouldn't divulge his immediate plans despite contemplating retirement after his last fight - a five-round war for the welterweight belt against then-champion Robbie Lawler.

A perennial contender, Condit is in the midst of the roughest stretch of an otherwise stellar career, going 2-5 in his last seven fights. Maia, on the other hand, is riding a career resurgence at age 38. His record now stands at 24-6.