UFC on ESPN 24 featured just one heavyweight bout on the 10-fight card. Maurice Greene versus Marcos Rogerio de Lima featured two unranked UFC vets hoping to bounce back from stoppage losses in their final outings of 2020. It could be said Greene needed it even more having lost three of his last four heading into booking. In a near must-win, Greene put in a career-worst performance.

Both men collided and threw bombs early and often in the opening round before de Lima chose to turn it into a clinch battle on the cage. Eventually, getting his opponent down on the mat. The Brazilian seemed comfortable staying in Greene’s guard and banging away with ground-and-pound. With part of his upper body resting on the cage and the near 265-pounder on top of him, Greene looked stuck in the position for the entirety of the round.

Marcos Rogerio de Lima beats Maurice Greene in a forgettable heavyweight bout

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Ten seconds into the next round and “The Crochet Boss” was right back on the ground. Seemingly stuck to the mat as if de Lima put super glue on his posterior. The American just had no answers for his opponent’s size and jiu-jitsu. He was a turtle on its back getting pummeled by his larger foes punches. The only knock in the round was “Pezao’s” lack of push for the finish, on a fighter who looks like they have no technical response to grappling of this kind.

The third round was a rinse and repeat of the first two. As the 35-year-old landed another quick takedown and his opponent was glued to the mat for the duration. It was more of Greene seeming like an MMA grappling blue belt, and de Lima unwilling to bring a merciful end to the fight and get a finish.

de Lima eventually was awarded the unanimous decision win and continues his run of 10 straight fights alternating wins and losses. As for Greene, he has now lost four of his last five bouts in the Octagon and delivered a performance that could put his job in jeopardy Monday morning.