Demian Maia: “I’d accept a Jiu-Jitsu match”
October 11th, 2011
Demian celebrating win at UFC 136 / Photo: UFC
Demian Maia got back to his winning ways last Saturday at UFC 136, outpointing fellow-Brazilian Jorge Santiago. In the following GRACIEMAG.com interview, Demian comments on MMA’s evolution and the possibility of again donning his gi for a Jiu-Jitsu match.
I noticed that in this fight you applied all the different aspects of MMA very well. You traded strikes standing, landed takedowns, and were masterful on the ground. Do you feel you’ve found balance between the different techniques that make up the sport?
I feel I’m getting more and more balanced. For this fight, I placed great importance on Jiu-Jitsu and takedowns. I didn’t come up with the submission, but besides the opponent being high level, things were a bit tense. I don’t think either of us let loose much in the fight.
Like you said, there was no finish. Do you feel that was your failure, or was it a credit to your opponent?
I don’t think I messed up anywhere. I kept to strategy, which was to stand and trade and then take it to the ground for the finish. Perhaps I didn’t take and risks on the ground so as not to lose my positioning; I was looking for balance. I didn’t want to lose my positioning, to not miss out on getting the submission. But I’m pleased with the fight. I’ve always been very instinctive; this time we laid a strategy and I’m learning to stick with it.
Your record for this year is one win and one loss. How do you feel 2011 has been for you?
I can’t say this year has been bad, if just because the fight with [Mark] Munoz was a good one. I lost the decision but it was close. The main thing for me, regardless of results, is that I evolved a lot. I’ve spent the last two years working on being well-rounded in everything, not just Jiu-Jitsu but striking, takedowns and physical conditioning. I’m still pursuing this, and I believe I’ve become a different fighters since I fought Anderson.
Speaking of Anderson Silva, what do you expect in a likely fight between him and Chael Sonnen?
It’s a good matchup that a lot of people want to see. Anderson’s the champion, the guy to beat, but I think it will be rough for both of them. Anderson’s the favorite, and I’m certain the UFC will put this fight together.
You’ve won the ADCC before. What did you think of the last event? Did you watch any matches?
I haven’t watched the last ADCC yet but really want to. But I did talk to some friends about it and I’m pleased with a number of things. Two friends of mine got to the under-77kg final, Marcelo [Garcia] and Léo [Vieira]. Léo was a teacher of mine and we’ve trained together a lot. André Galvão is also a training partner of mine from way back; I’ve spoken with him since and I’m really happy that he won. There was Xande Ribeiro too… I’m so pleased. I watch the Worlds or ADCC any chance I get. This time I didn’t get to go because it was so close to my fight. I actually wanted to compete there but my priority is the UFC. My life now revolves around the UFC.
You wanted to compete? What if someone made you a good offer to have a Gi or No-Gi match, would you take it?
I’d like to do it and would accept a Jiu-Jitsu match. Last year they offered to set up a match with Jake Shields at the UFC Fan Expo, just after my fight with Anderson. It ended up not happening. But Shields should be moving up in weight now and he’s someone to keep an eye on.
Demian Win! UFC 136. Texas
October 9th, 2011
By Mike Chiappetta MMA Writer
HOUSTON — This is the UFC 136 live blog for Demian Maia vs.Jorge Santiago, a middleweight bout on tonight’s UFC 136 on Spike TV preliminary card from the Toyota Center.
Round 1: The two dance around the cage exchanging punches. Maia flurries, then drives low and takes Santiago down. As Maia tries to pass to a better position, Santiago gets to his feet. We’re almost midway through. Santiago throws a head kick. Maia sidesteps him and lands a hook. During an exchange, Maia takes Santiago down again. Santiago is doing a good job keeping his guard closed against Maia’s dangerous submissions, but Maia lands a few strikes, and rides out the round on top. It’s 10-9 Maia.
Round 2: Santiago takes the middle as Maia wades around the outside. Santiago just misses with a head kick. Santiago has done well in the exchanges but just as he finds his rhythm, Maia takes him down again. Santiago defending well from guard. Maia gives up on trying to pass to a better position and instead looks for strikes. It’s sort of a stalemate, and the crowd boos them for the last 10 seconds. It’s Maia again, 10-9.
Round 3: Maia tries for a single leg takedown, this time Santiago defends. Maia keeps driving for it, and Santiago spins away. He’s got to let his hands go. Maia won’t let him. He clinches again. He has Santiago’s back but can’t drag him down. The pace is a grind. Finally, Maia takes him to the ground with 2:30 left. Maia scores with an elbow. Santiago is so intent on closing his guard that he hasn’t thought of trying to get up. Maia passes to side control but does nothing with it. This crowd is now officially restless. Luckily, time is nearly out. Maia lands a series of elbows in the final seconds, and it’s his again, 10-9.
Winner: Demian Maia via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The 50 Best Submissions in the History of MMA
September 2nd, 2011
Probiótica, the new sponsor!
August 1st, 2011
“I am proud to have a new sponsor. Now, in addition to Bad Boy, we have a new company in time. I just closed a contract with Probiótica (largest supplement company in Brazil and South America)” Demian Maia
Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago set for UFC 136
July 16th, 2011
By Guilherme Cruz
Photo UFC
Brazilian middleweights are set to battle at Houston, Texas, on UFC 126 card. TATAME.com learned with sources that Demian Maia and Jorge Santiago were expected to fight at the card, and Maia’s manager, Eduardo Alonso, confirmed the news to TATAME.
Demian and Santiago are both coming from losses at the octagon. The first one went to a war against Mark Muñoz, but lost by decision. Santiago went back to the UFC after winning consecutive titles at Strikeforce and Sengoku, but lost to Brian Stann via knockout
UFC – Demian Maia: “I made some strategic mistakes” against Muñoz
June 27th, 2011 |
||
|
By Marcelo Barone
Photo UFC
After over a year without losing, Demian Maia experienced the bitter taste of a defeat
when facing Mark Muñoz, in UFC 131, which happened on June 11th, in Canadá.
On a unanimous decision of the judges, the Brazilian lost, but was then complimented
by his opponent, who was surprised by his improvement on striking. And exactly
on that matter, Demain regretted not having had enough confidence to defeat the Muñoz.
On an exclusive interview with TATAME, the fighter affirmed that, for having put
on a good show, he believes he hasn’t moved so far away from a possible title
shot on the middleweight division, which is currently ruled by Anderson Silva.
“It always prevents us from moving forwards because it’s a loss. But since it was a good
bout, against a tough guy and as I proved to have evolved in some aspects, I guess
it’s not that bad. Of course it’s a bump, it stops me from moving forwards.
But the important is to do our job the best way we can, because now it’s gone”.
What are your thoughts about this bout with Mark Muñoz?
It was a good bout, despite I’m sad for having lost it, as any other athlete would feel.
I guess I made some strategic mistakes, which changed the result from what I was
expecting to come. I could have won it easily. I was following my game plan on the
first round, but then I changed it and that was my mistake.
What mistakes do you think you made?
I guess my first mistake was that my game plan of moving around a lot was working
out and I changed it. I had the chance to knock him out on the first round, but I didn’t
believe myself, I thought he was pretending to be hurt and, instead of keeping on doing
it on the following rounds, I started trying to take him down on the second round.
That was my first strategic mistake. The second one was to do something when
I have agreed not to do it, which was to stand still and strike. I just had to move around,
like I was doing on the first round and when it was working. I guess these two mistakes
lead it to my defeat.
What lessons did you learn from this defeat?
The first and most important one, is that I have to trust my striking power more, because
I lacked this trust when I punched him and he felt it. I had to trust myself, go forwards,
believe that it was indeed working. The second thing I’ve learned is that I don’t must
use my Jiu-Jitsu in all bouts I’m at, because I guess I lost focus when I tried
to change my game plan, which was working, so that I could use my Jiu-Jitsu
on the second round.
You said you didn’t trust your striking game, but it was complimented a
lot, including my Munoz. What do you owe this evolution for?
I’ve been training a lot, I like training and improving and that’s what I’ve always
done since I joined Ultimate’s cast. I want to improve my striking game, and
I guess the results are starting to show up. I just have to have a little more
experience on that area.
From now on, how will you improve your game?
After we have a meeting, I’ll keep on training my Boxing, my Jiu-Jitsu, doing what
I do while practicing and maybe dedicate myself a little more to the tactic and
strategic parts of my game.
You were on a good win streak, and your last defeat has been to Anderson Silva.
In what way does this defeat disturb you from getting closer to a chance at the belt?
It always prevents us from moving forwards because it’s a loss. But since it was
a good bout, against a tough guy and as I proved to have evolved in some aspects,
I guess it’s not that bad. Of course it’s a bump, it stops me from moving forwards.
But the important is to do our job the best way we can, because now it’s gone.
You’re a Jiu-Jitsu expert, but you haven’t submitted your opponents for
a long time, since you defeated Chael Sonnen. How do you see it?
I guess I was on a transition from the stand-up game, which made me calmer
and insconsciently I spent less energy trying to submit guys while on the floor.
But what’s gone is gone. On this fight, for instance, if I got stuck on the ground,
even against a tough guy on the floor, I guess I could have submitted him.
So, you think you should have insisted on your Jiu-Jitsu?
No. I insisted a lot, because he was doing a good job blocking me. I felt from
the top when he launched a coup that hit me, so it was hard. When I felt again
it was due to a coup he has fit, on the second round, so I wasn’t able to put
so much pressure on him as if I could have done if we were fighting Jiu-Jitsu exclusively.
So I guess it’s the other way around. On this bout, if I had stick to my game plan,
I wouldn’t have to use my Jiu-Jitsu. And maybe I could’ve won.
|
||
Academy Demian Maia JJ welcomed Panama’s athletes
June 24th, 2011
|
| Dia de Treino – 20 jun 2011 |
 |
| Willy, Norberto, Demian e Tim |
 |
| Demian e Tim |
 |
| Willy e Demian |
 |
| Norberto e Demian |
 |
| Tim e Wagner Motta |
 |
| Demian Maia e Mario Yamazaki, árbrito UFC |
The fight continues always
June 13th, 2011
Junior dos Santos and Demian Maia Talk UFC 131
June 9th, 2011
Twitter Demian | Facebook | Site | Blog | Demian na Web | Interviews | UFC 131 | Badboy | Loja | Vídeos | Academia na Web | Sobre Academia | Twitter Academia | Horário de Aulas | Competições 2011 | MConsultoria
New affiliate Academy Demian Maia: Michigan / USA
June 3rd, 2011
Check us out on Twitter at hvjj-madhousemma or on Facebook at Hvjj Madhouse
