Demian Maia’s involvement in martial arts began very early in life. At the tender age of 4, he could already be found on the mats developing his interest in fighting through judo, an art he practiced until he was 6. After a few years away from the martial arts, Demian trained kung-fu and karate from the time he was 12 until he was 19. From these arts he developed concentration, mental toughness and an unwavering will to be the best. Then, he was introduced by a cousin to the martial art for which he would dedicate his life, a martial art he would choose as his life’s endeavor because of its gentleness yet fierce practicality – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Demian dedicated himself intensively to Jiu-Jitsu, training two to three times per day while simultaneously studying journalism in college (Cásper Líbero Social Communication College, São Paulo, Brazil). He graduated in 2001 and capped off the year by earning his black belt in December.

His quest in Jiu-Jitsu began as he trained under Carlson Gracie brown belt Fabio Araujo. Demian decided to follow his dreams and sought-out one of the greatest icons of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Fabio Gurgel, who would be the one to hand him his black belt. It took 4 years and 7 months from the first day he started training until the day he received the black belt – record time in Brazil for the achievement. Pre-black belt, Demian was among the best fighters in his division, collecting 2 world titles that would precede his 3 as a black belt:

2000 world champion – purple belt

2001 world champion – brown belt

2002, 2003, 2005 world cup champion – black belt

Demian began his mixed martial arts career while still a brown belt. His debut took place in Venezuela, where he finished his opponent in less than sixty seconds at an event called the Tormenta en el Ring 2001.

In the ensuing years – now as a black belt with a college degree – Demian reached the pinnacle of the sport as he held Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s ultimate titles:

Champion of the World Cup’s absolute category (no weight limit) from 2002-2003

Champion of the World Cup 2005 (Demian beat the phenomenal Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza – who was considered the world’s best BJJ fighter of 2004 and 2005

Vice Pan-American Champion, 2005

Pan-American Champion, 2006

Vice Absolute Brazilian Champion, 2006

Demian is the only São Paulo tri-champion absolute black belt (2003, 2004, 2006). He won his weight category in 2002 and 2004.

Demian was also successful in ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club), the sport’s premier no-gi competition:

Vice Champion, ADCC 2005 (six weeks after knee surgery, Demian beat Bráulio Estima and Fernando Margarida – two of the sport’s premier fighters)

Champion, ADCC 2007

In MMA, after the 2001 victory in Venezuela, Demian was champion of The Cage Vol. 4: Redemption held in Helsinki, Finland in December of 2005, and won the 2006 Super Challenge in Brazil, one of his toughest challenges – 3 fights in one night.

Demian Maia, 5x world Jiu-Jitsu champion, is carving his legacy in the world of martial arts. He holds a professional MMA record of 11-1 (6 fights in the UFC). He won his first 5 UFC fights all by choke, and is the first UFC fighter to earn four UFC Submission of the Night honors.

Currently, Demian Maia is dedicated to his MMA career and to providing private lessons and collective instruction in his academy.

Demian Maia is available for seminars around the world to teach the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and disseminate the Brazilian culture to other lands, such as: Japan, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Venezuela, England, USA, and Canada.

After being 5 times world champion jiu-jitsu, was undefeated for 11 fights in MMA. His record is 14 lutas, 12 wins and 2 defeat. One of the best athletes in the middleweight category at present, Demian Maia, writing his story follows the world of martial arts. In eight fights in the UFC, the largest in the world, Demian finished five opponents and is the only fighter to bill four times the bonus of better closing of the event. A record in the history of MMA.

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